The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation from the yeere of our Lord, one thousand three hundred twentie and seuen: being the first yeare of the raigne of the most mightie Prince Edvvard the third, to the yeere 1558. Also, of the peaceable and quiet state of England, vnder the blessed gouernement of the most excellent and vertuous Princesse Elizabeth: A compendious declaration written by C. O. And newly translated out of Latine verse into English meeter. By I. S. [i.e. John Sharrock] |
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ELIZABETH QVEENE.
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 | The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation |  |
ELIZABETH QVEENE.
Forthwith
in royall throne, and regall chaire, as Queene was set,
Elizabeth, a Princesse stout, whom Henry did begett,
King Henry monarch high extold, amongst all earthly Peeres.
Elizabeth, adornished euen from her tender yeares,
With manners meeke, with learnings lore, with wisedome eke diuine,
Excelling in the Greekish tong, and Latine phrase so fine.
She knowes ech Countries language to through Europe all along,
The Germaine, and the Italike, the French, and Spanish tong.
In skillfull scanning of the law, she palme deserueth well,
In comely feature, bewtie cleare, her visage doth excell.
The courage of her mynde is such, as like is hard to finde,
In female sexe, celestiall wisedome pure, so deepe is shrinde,
within her royall brest. The mirrour of this age no dout.
On earth a regall mace to beare from heauens dimised out.
A virgin brooking gratefull peace, gaynst dreadfull wars opposde.
Howbeit that of this Princely Impe the byrth day be disclosde:
And from what happy mother sprong, so happy a byrth, made glad,
The Britaines harts, through mestiue grones & sobbs which erst were sad:
The Lady Anne a damsell bright, with Henry linked fast
In sacred wedlock was, his conscience prickt, and mou'd at last,
The best diuine of high Iehoue expresly to him showne,
His brother Arthurs spoused seere, to cherish as his owne.
which twentie yeares, and three, vnwittyng mighty Ioues edict,
By Moyses mouth exprest, such bandes contract for bidding strict:
He vsed had, (the Britaine Peers allowing this his fact)
Lest that so rich a dower from his demaines should be extract
Agayne to be repayde. The Romaine Bishopps Bull, this act
Confirmed so, that lawfully one brother might obtaine,
His brothers wife, if him behinde, suruiuour he remaine.
Howbeit fewe yeares expirde, the Approbation of such bandes,
Quite abrogated by the learned Lawyers of the landes,
Of Italy, and Fraunce (that here vnshewd, their suffrage hold,
Our English Doctors all, through sacred knowledge high extold.
The Romish prelate proud, such actes for to allow,
As though the heauenly lawes diuine vnto his becke did bow:
And he himselfe exempted, did not vnder lawes abide,
As subiect vnto Christ the head, the very church is tide.
For head is one, sweete Christ alone, to which as corpes is knit,
His flocke vnite, two heades cannot vnto one body fit.
Hence did this ougly monstrous beast, first take his curelesse wound,
One horne off torne, though nine remaine his front succincting round,
And doth with shiuering dread, the hugie world put in a stound.
Moreouer with diuine instinct inspirde, a prophet sage,
Hath song the time to come, in which this hellish fend shall rage,
Unarmde, his other hornes off torne, which earthly Monarches shall
For time prescribde forsake, being spotted blacke and rough withall.
wherefore in good, and luckie houre, by best of Ioue almights,
Are worthily solemnized Hymeneus sacred rightes,
Twixt Henry king and Anne, with royall pompe, of honour due.
which more adornde, of Britaine Peeres a huge and stately crue,
with troupes of men beset, in silken vestures brauely clad.
The States most pretious robes, with red gold spanges imbrodered had,
And massie chaines of fined gold, on shoulders foulded bare.
The Courtlike Ladies blasing gemmes, their hands beseeming, ware,
Their neckes, with Iewels glimmering bright, adornd, and ouches rare.
On auncient beames bespred, was cloth of Arras curious wrought,
Such as by Pallas proper hand ywouen, you would haue thought.
All thinges did mirth portend, both boyes, and men of elder age,
And virgine troupes, with solempne Himnes, did good successe presage.
The holed boxe pipe fild with winde, doth plaiers will obay.
Then might you see the springoldes fresh, in streetes to skip, and play.
These open signes of commons ioy, might well the Queene delight,
And with his new espowsed feere, reioyce the king by right.
But after that of seede conceau'de, through wombe extended hye,
Undoubted tokens to the world, the princesse did descrie:
Almightie God, what wondrous ioy, the heartes of Britaines rought,
What ardent hope, what deepe desire, eche noble stomacke cought,
That to the king into the world a male childe might be brought
Forthwith vnto the antike tower, of Cæsar mightie king,
The Queene with condigne pompe; a troupe of noble peeres did bring.
From whence she came, according to this nations guise of old,
To take the princely Diademe (imbos'de with stones) of gold,
The people all exclayming, Ioue your blisse, and ioies increase,
God graunt you liue king Nestors yeares, God giue you good successe,
And whil'st she did triumphantlike, in gorgeous chariot passe,
With trampling milke white Steeds, of courage fierce, which caried was,
With yeomen tall, of sturdie loines, in purple decked neat,
Strong garded, as a prince beseemd: perfumes in euerie streat,
We are made, as erst in elder age, when men in temples praid,
Sweet smelling mirh, and frankensence, were on the altars laid
And as in time of Autumne when the round, and staring stalke,
Standes bolt vpright, in furrowes large, that passers as they walke,
Cannot discerne the ground, so thicke are sprong the reedes of corne:
The eares all wauering with the windes, now here, now there are borne:
None otherwise in euerie streete the people presse apace,
The waies vp thrunging thick, that scarse remaines a standing place:
Eche eie directly bent, vpon her gratious heauenly face.
The Conditts eke, which liqued streames, accustom'd erst did scoure,
Did Bacchus sacred giftes of wine fresh frothing bolls out poure.
The outside of eche house, faire hanging carpets brodered dight,
And balmed odours eke of fragrant flowers breede much delight.
Which ioyes augmented more the cheerefull countenaunce of the Queene,
And thousandes thick of people, which ranne stragling to be seene,
Most wondrous thrust on plumpes, from street, to street, insuing fast,
And musickes skill, the eares did fill with many a chearefull blast.
Now Phœbus hastning for to shrine in Ocean flouds his face,
Beholdes the iourney of the Queene, as to the roiall place,
Of Henry King she hied, in westerne side of London sett,
The next day comes. The princely traine to Peters church doth iet,
Where breathles corps, of Britaine kings, intombd are wont to lye,
The nobles first before, in order two and two do hye,
As Princes Court requires, and Britaine nations antike rite.
A king at armes, ech setts in rome, as honour doth inuite.
His fellowes eke, in auncient coates of Armes resplendent dight,
The solempne pompe doe much adorne, and bewtifie the sight.
The troupe of Peeres insuing next, a stately Wagon showes,
which palfraies white as driuen snow on bright bits champing drawes,
The Queene vnto the commons all, in robes of purple fine,
with Diamondes, and Emerauldes beset, which glistering shine,
with countenaunce full of modestie, adornd, and seemely grace.
Who with a troupe of courtlike Dames, which after her did trace,
Into the temple wendes, with heart, and hand to Ioue extolde,
Where in the midst of prayer time, a pretious crowne of gold,
Her temples bright doth garnish braue, the priest with solempne vowes,
Beseeching God, with fruit to spring, to blesse this late made spowes.
These sacred rites performed thus, eche noble in his rome,
Returnes vnto a royall feast, in order as he come.
Chiefe Steward then of England was the Northfolke Duke assignd,
The dignitie of Taster, th'Earle of Arundell did binde,
High Chamberlaine the Oxford Earle did decke as title new,
The remnant comne of royall race perform'd their office due.
In massie bolls, of fined gold, God Bacchus giftes were brought,
And plenteous store of cates, was laid on tables curious wrought.
This solempne banquett, time with certaine limites finisht quite,
When Phœbus neere the euening starre, began with raies to smite,
The Ocean salt sea flouds, and downe in deepes his front to hide,
Declining prone towardes the coastes of Libia Region wide.
The princely Court of Henry king, with murmuring noyce resounds,
At the returning of the Queene, such wondrous ioy abounds.
Nine times her glimmering light, the lampe of Phœbe had renued,
And after the solemniz'd day, the tenth month fast insued.
Don Titan had not yet, the face of Virgo ouerpast,
Remaining in the aspect, of that heauenly starre, where placst
Hermes, as in his mansion house, to be doth chiefe delight.
Great learning wandring Hermes doth foreshew, and manners bright,
But chiefly he portendes a happy witt, and iudgement quick.
But if that Ioue exalted be, linkt in coniunction strick
To Venus, and with them in friendly aspect Sol be tied:
O goodly God, which so the course, of heauenly starres doest guide
And force doest giue, and take again, as likes thy sacred hest,
The childe borne shall be fortunate, with honour eke inuest:
Shall royall scepter hold, and still in flowing wealth abound,
Rewardes bestowing still nor end of giuing shall be found,
With heauenly wit indued also, adornde with counsaile sound,
Eche vertuous worke attempting bold, in bruntes of Mars renownd,
God this doth, bring to passe, not Planetts which their course do take,
Within the Spheres celestiall, for Planets courses make:
By powre of Ioue diuine, without whose aid they nought preuayle,
Nor good effect can woorke. God in them is, which thouten faile
Doth certaine houre of birth appoint, to euery mortall wight,
As him shall please, that Author was, which formed them aright,
As other thinges, so Planets were the worke of God almight.
The seuenth of December, (Ioue omnipotent to passe,
This doutlesse brought) by course of yeares, the day of Sabaoth was,
Wherein king Henryes noble spouse, in childbirth trauaild sore,
As griefe augmentes, so skilfull aged wife insisteth more,
About her charge, sage matrons eke, of worthy race applied,
Their industry to aid, when labouring Princes gan to slide
In fainting panges, through burden ripe, deliuering vnto light,
Howbeit vndoubted tokens were foreshewed, of former might.
But after that into the world a childe of bewtious hue,
Was brought, with members straight composde: as softned waxe, a true
And perfit image fashioned beares: the people wondring much,
The cunning workmans skilfull hand, in forming to be such:
The aged Graundame cries amasde, her handes to heauen vp throwne,
Ye people present praise the Lord, Christ Iesus laud alone,
A Uirgin doth her mothers blisse, her fathers ioy increase,
In time to come this Uirgine shall procure the Britaines peace.
This is the onely hope, and solace of our English land,
The king his footesteppes fetching fast, him hasteth out of hand,
The mother, with her tender Impe to see, and wordes doth speake,
Of comfort to his spowes, stick, and through fleshly frailenes weake.
Forthwith for baptisme of this babe, the king his nobles bad,
For to prepare, the Northfolke Duke chiefe rule, and guidance had,
who in his hand a slender rod of Iuerie whitenesse bore.
All thinges prouided, as the king commaunded had before:
The Duke them willing, first the Barons went, an easie pace,
In portlike guise then Earls, then mightie Dukes did after trace.
The noble Duchesse in her armes the infant small did hold,
In swadling sheetes of lincloth soft, her tender corps infold.
A pretious mantle brodered rich, vpon the which did shine,
with golden gard adornd, imbosde with stones of Iasper fine:
which eyes of the beholders dimmd, with dazeling glauncing rayes.
Full many a noble Dame insues, and trustie seruauntes stayes
At euery becke to runne, about the temple dores alwayes.
Amongest the stately Peeres, the London Bishop present came,
with milke white stole inuest'd, as auncient age requir'd the same.
Faire fountaine streames were powred, in pretious font of siluer bright,
The Godfathers, and Godmothers, their promise freely plight'd
That in the liuely corps of Christ, Elizabeth vnited:
Should him receaue as head, whose corps the holy church perfited:
And purged cleane from filthy drosse, and superstition, was.
The Archbishop of Caunterbury, who did in honour passe
The rest, chiefe Primate of this land, and Northfolke Duches bright
with Exon Lady Marques then, did vow to Ioue almight,
In her behalfe, that she should loue his preceptes, and his lore,
when vnto age mature in time, she should attaine therefore.
Forthwith she was confirmde, in faith of Christ our carefull guide.
When as a king at Armes, with voyce vplifted loftie cried.
Long may the royall ofspring liue, of her renowmed sire,
Elizabeth, long may she liue, and to all blisse aspire,
And to the Crowne her father dead, let her succeede at heire.
The people all Amen exclaiming, noyce to heauens did reare:
which by the aire reuerberate, causde all the towne to ring:
The witnesses, of happie daies abodementes good, did bring
Unto the infant seuerally, rich giftes of fined gold,
By skilfull Art ingrau'de, with shapes, of Britaine Monarches old,
In which the Uirgine come to yeares, triumphing did delight.
Three hugie chargers first, did warlike Dudley lift in sight,
(For from the sacred tembles borne the royall offringes were,
By princely state in solempne sort, as custome did require)
The second gifts aloft, redoubted Haward high extold,
Three mightie standing bolles. Three massie cuppes of pretious gold,
Bestudded thick with stones, and radiant gemmes from Indy brought,
Thou third Fittzwater wenst, before thy brode brest lifting loft.
The fourth, and last (O Worcester) thy Earle succeeded straight,
whose wearied armes, of curious plate ingrauen felt the waight.
And now the regall court was thrungd and full of people prest,
The Primates lookes bewraid their ioyes, conceau'd in royall brest,
with all their noble Dames, and Lordes, and Barons of the land.
The Celler doores,, with wine repleat, to all men open stand.
God Bacchus bolles deepe cares do quell, and ioyes in heart makes flowe,
These thinges thus finisht, on the rout the king doth thankes bestowe,
And many sendes vnto their homes: howbeit the greatest part,
Of noble race esprong, from Princes court do neuer start.
Couragious springoldes eke, collect'd from all partes of this land,
To bend, and vow at euery beck, all waiting ready stand.
More to confirme their loue, towardes this Impe conceau'd in minde:
with plighted oth on sacrament, themselues the people binde,
Establisht, firme to stand, in faithfull duetie to her knit.
Not one, but all, this region coastes throughout, vow not to flitt.
Meane time the Uirgin adding groth vnto her tender yeares,
Increasd in fauour eke, of heauenly powers, and earthly Peeres,
Whom commons loue succeeds. But when her mother tong she knew.
Expressing signes of wondrous wit, and Iudgement to insue:
She at her prudent sayinges, made astoinisht men to stand,
And bookes desirous to be taught, would alway haue in hand.
She scarse the letters with her eyes intentiue did behold,
Their seuerall names, but thrise before by her instructor told:
But perfect them at fingers end, as two monthes taught, she bare,
Their figures diuerse made, deciphering well, by iudgement rare.
Yea in few dayes (a marueile great it is to speake no dout)
The Princely impe by industie, such sap had sucked out:
That without councell to assist, she any thing could reed,
So nothing intricate is found, nor difficult in deed,
To willing mindes, deceauing toyles the loue of vertue true.
Her mothers solace great, this Uirgin bright of roseal hue,
Did ample hope foreshew, what helpe she should to Britaynes bee:
The Æquinoctiall line, which dayes, and nightes, makes to agree
In true proportion like, Don Phœbus lampe had banisht farre,
From this our Climate, chasing fast towardes the Northarne starre,
Then ready for to take a signe celestiall by the way,
which Venus mansion house to be, Astronomers do say.
Then pleasant spring, appeares on earth, and rough hayle shoures depriues,
Expelling nipping coldes, and into th'hard earth moisture driues.
Then fieldes do fragrant shew, than all things budding blossomes beare,
Then Nightingales with chirping notes, melodiously do were
Away the lingring darksome night, and please the watchfull eare.
Now was the tyme when gratefull rest, had layd in drowsie sleepe,
Men mortalls weried bones, and bodies close in couch did keepe.
The king therfore him hies to bed, so doth his royall Queene,
His chamber he, she takes a rowme, ioynt to an herbour greene,
With floures of sondry colours dect, most pleasant to be seene.
where long and tedious houres she spendes, whilst studious she her booke
Reuoluing turnes, which customde vse, of tender yeares she tooke,
Till drowsie sleepe, her daceled eyes, soft stealing on, vp closde.
But when she thus a great part of the night had spent, reposde
At last in loftie bed of state, (as Princely Ladies are:)
with vowes deuout, of soule, and corps, she prayes high Ioue take care.
Then drencht in deepe sleepe rest she takes, forgetting fancies past,
Now midst of glomish shadowy night, expired was, at last,
Deepe silence dogges, and men, and beastes of saluage kind, had rought,
When Morpheus in her grandsiers shape, the God of dreames him brought,
Unto the Queene, (which long before, was in Sepulcher layd)
With beard downe dangling long, and head white hoar, and thus he sayd.
O Anne (which layd in dead sleepe sound yet thought herselfe awake,)
Feare not my daughter Anne, nor at this vision trembling quake,
Behold thy Grandsier I, here present stand, of yore well knowne,
From all contagion earthly free, I dwell in heauenly throne,
Wherewith Ioues sacred ministers, I endlesse life obtaine,
To liue so, is to liue in deede, thou liu'st to dye agayne.
Prepare thy selfe with Sainctes in ioyes celestiall for to comme,
To Christ, which heauenly boures hath built, and sitts in highest rowme,
Desirous that his flocke, with him should raigne, Peace, endlesse blisse,
Tranquillitie secure in deede, no chaunce, nor chaunge there is.
What earthly honour can preuayle? what glory great of kings?
What pompous wealth aboundant? what rich pretious vestements brings?
What profite can bright purple robes? what glistering gemmes and gold?
Can they mens mindes once better? or the sling of plagues withhold?
Can they Deathes threatning dart, or vexing chaunces keepe away?
All earthly thinges perswade thy selfe, do frayle fall in decay,
On heauen thine eyelids firmely fixe, seeke heauenly kingdomes hie,
Which for Christes faythfull flocke, prepared are vndoubtedly.
Now to what end this talke doth tend, with minde attentiue know:
Foule enuie start with poysoning snakes, from gastly shadowes low:
With hatreds brandes the world perturbes, in Princes Courtes her nest
Erecting strong, that who so God, and Iustice, fauours best:
And gratious in his Prince his sight, with credit great doth grow:
So much the rather on his flesh, will enuious vipers gnow,
And worke will with such secrecie, that he shall not perceaue,
The venemous sting, till Atrapos his vitall breath bereaue,
And by dire destinies fatall doome, he be entombd in ground.
Thou knowest the mighty Britaine guide. by stablisht lawes profound,
In his hye Court of Parliament (where mixt in Counsell seat,
Both Peers, and People of the land, it earnest did intreat:)
His subtill vndermining fraude, now set abro{t}h, and knowne:
The Pope, with his Supremacie, out of his land hath throwne,
And that no Bulls, from Romish seat hereafter should be sought,
Whereby his pompe might be maintaind, by them in thousands bought.
Wherfore the prudent Monarch, hath from his dominions all,
Him quite expelld, howbeit in Court his wilie fautors stall,
And faultring dread lest that their fraude detected, and betrayde,
Should in her glosing colours be portraid, and brode bewrayde.
They shiuering feare lest that thy rule, their rage to ruine bring,
If fatall destinies in thy Prime thee with their bane should sting:
(For that those traitrous villaines brue) they would triumphing sing,
No farther dout, or daunger, then suspecting to impend.
Howbeit about the hugie world, Sir Titan shall not end,
Two times his wandring course, before that by the Counsailes hestes,
All Idolls, props supporting both the Pope, and shauen crestes:
Shall by deuouring greedy flames, be burnt, and turnde to nought,
And Images be battred downe, with stones, of marble wrought.
The floore of Ioues most sacred house, shall purg'd, and scoured bee.
Meane time O happy England through thy Region by decree,
Of Henry mighty king: the Crier shall promulgate loude,
That vnto carued stockes, or stones, no knee shall once be bowde.
These wondrous thinges thou shalt not see aliue, to come to passe.
But relickes of the Challice, and such dreggs, and trumperie trash,
Shall not till after Henries death be banisht backe to Rome,
From whence, as from the fountain head, and welspring, first they come.
A boy then with coruscant vertue deckt, deuoyde of crime,
Againe shall bring (to Sainctes celestiall deare) in happie time,
The sacred wourd of high Iehoue, then superstition vaine,
A foule, and filthy errour shall all desolate remaine,
For seuen yeares space, which so doth sticke vnto religious side:
As doth the clinging Iuie thrombe, fast to the Elme abide.
Almighty Ioue, to heauenly blisse shall first this springold call:
Before the worldes frayle glory, shall his hart seduce at all,
Or lusting flesh incense him, by suggestion vnto sinne,
A flattering foe, in floud of Acheron to plundge him in.
The seuenth yeare of his raigne, shall him bereaue of regall mace.
Whom after shall a married Queene succeed, in royall place,
The Pope reducing. Then shall wofull England sliding backe,
Fall prostrate downe to blockes, and ripp agayne the Romish pack.
If any man do mutter once, by conscience terrour stong,
Or once reuolue the testament, writt in his mother tong:
Or out of it conuince the Pope to swarue from law, and right,
In vaunting his authoritie, equall with Ioues almight,
With diuilish pride vp puft: he shall with scorching brands be burnd,
With raging fiers consuming force, his bones to ashes turnd.
These goary woundes, thy tender impe at length shall cure agayne,
And comne to riper yeares, shall Princely crowne, and rule sustaine.
A comfort to her countrie soyle, and solace to her frendes.
In whose most blessed raigne (such luckie fate, from heauen discendes)
Shall Britaine people liue in blisse, and England happy bee,
And vnder her good guidance liue, in long tranquillitie.
with Indies pretious marchaundise, the people shall abound,
The Pope reiect'd, and bannisht home, to coasts of Latian ground.
Shall onely for his owne precinctes, and bandes, be bad to care,
And in proud Rome, the sinke of vice, to set to sale his ware.
Here of the Popes Supremacie shall be the finall end,
Thy ofspring shall with cureles wound, his power vsurped rend.
Thenceforth, it shall not lawfull be, to Idolls for to bend,
Or pretious mirh, and Frankensence, on Alters to perfume.
Hereon in vayne the Pope, incensed woode, shall fret, and stume,
With gnashing teeth, and eke attempt by trecherous meanes to spill,
Thy blessed ofspring, lou'de of Ioue, whose Godhead guiding still,
And shielding her from scath, she shall her enemy quite downe borne:
In peace her kingdome rule, and age with honour high adorne.
Here yet against this Nimph, his furious rage he shall not stay,
Blacke venome belking out, and Aspis poyson dire alway.
(Who would beleue) to heauenly blisse, their soules he shall betake,
In wordes, which due obedience shall of their true Prince forsake.
But downe in deed to tormentes fell, them headlong shall deiect.
who rules in heauenly globe aboue, her shall from scath protect.
Elizabeth of Britaine soyle the guidance great, and stay,
Of female sexe, the noble name, and palme shall beare away.
But thee mine ofspring deare, vnlike in happy destinies vewe,
Unto thy daughters fate on earth, shall better fate insue.
God which with becke, the course of things doth rule, by power diuine,
Thee from the midst of worldly pompe, wherein thou now doest shine,
And earthly honour, shall extoll with Sainctes in heauens to dwell,
There are no blubbring teares, no mortall tong for truth can tell,
Nor of those euerlasting ioyes, mens mortall eares haue hard,
Not to be chaungd for pretious gold, a high, and rich reward.
Be not in minde dismayde, though mestiue message I foreshow,
The houre vnlookt for of thine end, with swift course on doth draw,
For within thirtie dayes, thou shalt outgasp thys vitall breath.
Howbeit this solace great, of me receaue, before thy death:
Elizabeth through wondrous actes, to starrs shall lift the name,
Both of her selfe, and mightie Sier, and most renowmed dame.
Elizabeth, a Princesse stout, whom Henry did begett,
King Henry monarch high extold, amongst all earthly Peeres.
Elizabeth, adornished euen from her tender yeares,
With manners meeke, with learnings lore, with wisedome eke diuine,
Excelling in the Greekish tong, and Latine phrase so fine.
She knowes ech Countries language to through Europe all along,
The Germaine, and the Italike, the French, and Spanish tong.
In skillfull scanning of the law, she palme deserueth well,
In comely feature, bewtie cleare, her visage doth excell.
The courage of her mynde is such, as like is hard to finde,
In female sexe, celestiall wisedome pure, so deepe is shrinde,
within her royall brest. The mirrour of this age no dout.
On earth a regall mace to beare from heauens dimised out.
A virgin brooking gratefull peace, gaynst dreadfull wars opposde.
Howbeit that of this Princely Impe the byrth day be disclosde:
And from what happy mother sprong, so happy a byrth, made glad,
The Britaines harts, through mestiue grones & sobbs which erst were sad:
The Lady Anne a damsell bright, with Henry linked fast
In sacred wedlock was, his conscience prickt, and mou'd at last,
The best diuine of high Iehoue expresly to him showne,
His brother Arthurs spoused seere, to cherish as his owne.
which twentie yeares, and three, vnwittyng mighty Ioues edict,
By Moyses mouth exprest, such bandes contract for bidding strict:
He vsed had, (the Britaine Peers allowing this his fact)
Lest that so rich a dower from his demaines should be extract
Agayne to be repayde. The Romaine Bishopps Bull, this act
Confirmed so, that lawfully one brother might obtaine,
His brothers wife, if him behinde, suruiuour he remaine.
Howbeit fewe yeares expirde, the Approbation of such bandes,
Quite abrogated by the learned Lawyers of the landes,
Our English Doctors all, through sacred knowledge high extold.
The Romish prelate proud, such actes for to allow,
As though the heauenly lawes diuine vnto his becke did bow:
And he himselfe exempted, did not vnder lawes abide,
As subiect vnto Christ the head, the very church is tide.
For head is one, sweete Christ alone, to which as corpes is knit,
His flocke vnite, two heades cannot vnto one body fit.
Hence did this ougly monstrous beast, first take his curelesse wound,
One horne off torne, though nine remaine his front succincting round,
And doth with shiuering dread, the hugie world put in a stound.
Moreouer with diuine instinct inspirde, a prophet sage,
Hath song the time to come, in which this hellish fend shall rage,
Unarmde, his other hornes off torne, which earthly Monarches shall
For time prescribde forsake, being spotted blacke and rough withall.
wherefore in good, and luckie houre, by best of Ioue almights,
Are worthily solemnized Hymeneus sacred rightes,
Twixt Henry king and Anne, with royall pompe, of honour due.
which more adornde, of Britaine Peeres a huge and stately crue,
with troupes of men beset, in silken vestures brauely clad.
The States most pretious robes, with red gold spanges imbrodered had,
And massie chaines of fined gold, on shoulders foulded bare.
The Courtlike Ladies blasing gemmes, their hands beseeming, ware,
Their neckes, with Iewels glimmering bright, adornd, and ouches rare.
On auncient beames bespred, was cloth of Arras curious wrought,
Such as by Pallas proper hand ywouen, you would haue thought.
All thinges did mirth portend, both boyes, and men of elder age,
And virgine troupes, with solempne Himnes, did good successe presage.
The holed boxe pipe fild with winde, doth plaiers will obay.
Then might you see the springoldes fresh, in streetes to skip, and play.
These open signes of commons ioy, might well the Queene delight,
And with his new espowsed feere, reioyce the king by right.
But after that of seede conceau'de, through wombe extended hye,
Undoubted tokens to the world, the princesse did descrie:
Almightie God, what wondrous ioy, the heartes of Britaines rought,
What ardent hope, what deepe desire, eche noble stomacke cought,
That to the king into the world a male childe might be brought
Forthwith vnto the antike tower, of Cæsar mightie king,
The Queene with condigne pompe; a troupe of noble peeres did bring.
To take the princely Diademe (imbos'de with stones) of gold,
The people all exclayming, Ioue your blisse, and ioies increase,
God graunt you liue king Nestors yeares, God giue you good successe,
And whil'st she did triumphantlike, in gorgeous chariot passe,
With trampling milke white Steeds, of courage fierce, which caried was,
With yeomen tall, of sturdie loines, in purple decked neat,
Strong garded, as a prince beseemd: perfumes in euerie streat,
We are made, as erst in elder age, when men in temples praid,
Sweet smelling mirh, and frankensence, were on the altars laid
And as in time of Autumne when the round, and staring stalke,
Standes bolt vpright, in furrowes large, that passers as they walke,
Cannot discerne the ground, so thicke are sprong the reedes of corne:
The eares all wauering with the windes, now here, now there are borne:
None otherwise in euerie streete the people presse apace,
The waies vp thrunging thick, that scarse remaines a standing place:
Eche eie directly bent, vpon her gratious heauenly face.
The Conditts eke, which liqued streames, accustom'd erst did scoure,
Did Bacchus sacred giftes of wine fresh frothing bolls out poure.
The outside of eche house, faire hanging carpets brodered dight,
And balmed odours eke of fragrant flowers breede much delight.
Which ioyes augmented more the cheerefull countenaunce of the Queene,
And thousandes thick of people, which ranne stragling to be seene,
Most wondrous thrust on plumpes, from street, to street, insuing fast,
And musickes skill, the eares did fill with many a chearefull blast.
Now Phœbus hastning for to shrine in Ocean flouds his face,
Beholdes the iourney of the Queene, as to the roiall place,
Of Henry King she hied, in westerne side of London sett,
The next day comes. The princely traine to Peters church doth iet,
Where breathles corps, of Britaine kings, intombd are wont to lye,
The nobles first before, in order two and two do hye,
As Princes Court requires, and Britaine nations antike rite.
A king at armes, ech setts in rome, as honour doth inuite.
His fellowes eke, in auncient coates of Armes resplendent dight,
The solempne pompe doe much adorne, and bewtifie the sight.
The troupe of Peeres insuing next, a stately Wagon showes,
which palfraies white as driuen snow on bright bits champing drawes,
The Queene vnto the commons all, in robes of purple fine,
with Diamondes, and Emerauldes beset, which glistering shine,
with countenaunce full of modestie, adornd, and seemely grace.
Into the temple wendes, with heart, and hand to Ioue extolde,
Where in the midst of prayer time, a pretious crowne of gold,
Her temples bright doth garnish braue, the priest with solempne vowes,
Beseeching God, with fruit to spring, to blesse this late made spowes.
These sacred rites performed thus, eche noble in his rome,
Returnes vnto a royall feast, in order as he come.
Chiefe Steward then of England was the Northfolke Duke assignd,
The dignitie of Taster, th'Earle of Arundell did binde,
High Chamberlaine the Oxford Earle did decke as title new,
The remnant comne of royall race perform'd their office due.
In massie bolls, of fined gold, God Bacchus giftes were brought,
And plenteous store of cates, was laid on tables curious wrought.
This solempne banquett, time with certaine limites finisht quite,
When Phœbus neere the euening starre, began with raies to smite,
The Ocean salt sea flouds, and downe in deepes his front to hide,
Declining prone towardes the coastes of Libia Region wide.
The princely Court of Henry king, with murmuring noyce resounds,
At the returning of the Queene, such wondrous ioy abounds.
Nine times her glimmering light, the lampe of Phœbe had renued,
And after the solemniz'd day, the tenth month fast insued.
Don Titan had not yet, the face of Virgo ouerpast,
Remaining in the aspect, of that heauenly starre, where placst
Hermes, as in his mansion house, to be doth chiefe delight.
Great learning wandring Hermes doth foreshew, and manners bright,
But chiefly he portendes a happy witt, and iudgement quick.
But if that Ioue exalted be, linkt in coniunction strick
To Venus, and with them in friendly aspect Sol be tied:
O goodly God, which so the course, of heauenly starres doest guide
And force doest giue, and take again, as likes thy sacred hest,
The childe borne shall be fortunate, with honour eke inuest:
Shall royall scepter hold, and still in flowing wealth abound,
Rewardes bestowing still nor end of giuing shall be found,
With heauenly wit indued also, adornde with counsaile sound,
Eche vertuous worke attempting bold, in bruntes of Mars renownd,
God this doth, bring to passe, not Planetts which their course do take,
Within the Spheres celestiall, for Planets courses make:
By powre of Ioue diuine, without whose aid they nought preuayle,
Nor good effect can woorke. God in them is, which thouten faile
Doth certaine houre of birth appoint, to euery mortall wight,
As other thinges, so Planets were the worke of God almight.
The seuenth of December, (Ioue omnipotent to passe,
This doutlesse brought) by course of yeares, the day of Sabaoth was,
Wherein king Henryes noble spouse, in childbirth trauaild sore,
As griefe augmentes, so skilfull aged wife insisteth more,
About her charge, sage matrons eke, of worthy race applied,
Their industry to aid, when labouring Princes gan to slide
In fainting panges, through burden ripe, deliuering vnto light,
Howbeit vndoubted tokens were foreshewed, of former might.
But after that into the world a childe of bewtious hue,
Was brought, with members straight composde: as softned waxe, a true
And perfit image fashioned beares: the people wondring much,
The cunning workmans skilfull hand, in forming to be such:
The aged Graundame cries amasde, her handes to heauen vp throwne,
Ye people present praise the Lord, Christ Iesus laud alone,
A Uirgin doth her mothers blisse, her fathers ioy increase,
In time to come this Uirgine shall procure the Britaines peace.
This is the onely hope, and solace of our English land,
The king his footesteppes fetching fast, him hasteth out of hand,
The mother, with her tender Impe to see, and wordes doth speake,
Of comfort to his spowes, stick, and through fleshly frailenes weake.
Forthwith for baptisme of this babe, the king his nobles bad,
For to prepare, the Northfolke Duke chiefe rule, and guidance had,
who in his hand a slender rod of Iuerie whitenesse bore.
All thinges prouided, as the king commaunded had before:
The Duke them willing, first the Barons went, an easie pace,
In portlike guise then Earls, then mightie Dukes did after trace.
The noble Duchesse in her armes the infant small did hold,
In swadling sheetes of lincloth soft, her tender corps infold.
A pretious mantle brodered rich, vpon the which did shine,
with golden gard adornd, imbosde with stones of Iasper fine:
which eyes of the beholders dimmd, with dazeling glauncing rayes.
Full many a noble Dame insues, and trustie seruauntes stayes
At euery becke to runne, about the temple dores alwayes.
Amongest the stately Peeres, the London Bishop present came,
with milke white stole inuest'd, as auncient age requir'd the same.
Faire fountaine streames were powred, in pretious font of siluer bright,
The Godfathers, and Godmothers, their promise freely plight'd
That in the liuely corps of Christ, Elizabeth vnited:
And purged cleane from filthy drosse, and superstition, was.
The Archbishop of Caunterbury, who did in honour passe
The rest, chiefe Primate of this land, and Northfolke Duches bright
with Exon Lady Marques then, did vow to Ioue almight,
In her behalfe, that she should loue his preceptes, and his lore,
when vnto age mature in time, she should attaine therefore.
Forthwith she was confirmde, in faith of Christ our carefull guide.
When as a king at Armes, with voyce vplifted loftie cried.
Long may the royall ofspring liue, of her renowmed sire,
Elizabeth, long may she liue, and to all blisse aspire,
And to the Crowne her father dead, let her succeede at heire.
The people all Amen exclaiming, noyce to heauens did reare:
which by the aire reuerberate, causde all the towne to ring:
The witnesses, of happie daies abodementes good, did bring
Unto the infant seuerally, rich giftes of fined gold,
By skilfull Art ingrau'de, with shapes, of Britaine Monarches old,
In which the Uirgine come to yeares, triumphing did delight.
Three hugie chargers first, did warlike Dudley lift in sight,
(For from the sacred tembles borne the royall offringes were,
By princely state in solempne sort, as custome did require)
The second gifts aloft, redoubted Haward high extold,
Three mightie standing bolles. Three massie cuppes of pretious gold,
Bestudded thick with stones, and radiant gemmes from Indy brought,
Thou third Fittzwater wenst, before thy brode brest lifting loft.
The fourth, and last (O Worcester) thy Earle succeeded straight,
whose wearied armes, of curious plate ingrauen felt the waight.
And now the regall court was thrungd and full of people prest,
The Primates lookes bewraid their ioyes, conceau'd in royall brest,
with all their noble Dames, and Lordes, and Barons of the land.
The Celler doores,, with wine repleat, to all men open stand.
God Bacchus bolles deepe cares do quell, and ioyes in heart makes flowe,
These thinges thus finisht, on the rout the king doth thankes bestowe,
And many sendes vnto their homes: howbeit the greatest part,
Of noble race esprong, from Princes court do neuer start.
Couragious springoldes eke, collect'd from all partes of this land,
To bend, and vow at euery beck, all waiting ready stand.
More to confirme their loue, towardes this Impe conceau'd in minde:
with plighted oth on sacrament, themselues the people binde,
Establisht, firme to stand, in faithfull duetie to her knit.
Meane time the Uirgin adding groth vnto her tender yeares,
Increasd in fauour eke, of heauenly powers, and earthly Peeres,
Whom commons loue succeeds. But when her mother tong she knew.
Expressing signes of wondrous wit, and Iudgement to insue:
She at her prudent sayinges, made astoinisht men to stand,
And bookes desirous to be taught, would alway haue in hand.
She scarse the letters with her eyes intentiue did behold,
Their seuerall names, but thrise before by her instructor told:
But perfect them at fingers end, as two monthes taught, she bare,
Their figures diuerse made, deciphering well, by iudgement rare.
Yea in few dayes (a marueile great it is to speake no dout)
The Princely impe by industie, such sap had sucked out:
That without councell to assist, she any thing could reed,
So nothing intricate is found, nor difficult in deed,
To willing mindes, deceauing toyles the loue of vertue true.
Her mothers solace great, this Uirgin bright of roseal hue,
Did ample hope foreshew, what helpe she should to Britaynes bee:
The Æquinoctiall line, which dayes, and nightes, makes to agree
In true proportion like, Don Phœbus lampe had banisht farre,
From this our Climate, chasing fast towardes the Northarne starre,
Then ready for to take a signe celestiall by the way,
which Venus mansion house to be, Astronomers do say.
Then pleasant spring, appeares on earth, and rough hayle shoures depriues,
Expelling nipping coldes, and into th'hard earth moisture driues.
Then fieldes do fragrant shew, than all things budding blossomes beare,
Then Nightingales with chirping notes, melodiously do were
Away the lingring darksome night, and please the watchfull eare.
Now was the tyme when gratefull rest, had layd in drowsie sleepe,
Men mortalls weried bones, and bodies close in couch did keepe.
The king therfore him hies to bed, so doth his royall Queene,
His chamber he, she takes a rowme, ioynt to an herbour greene,
With floures of sondry colours dect, most pleasant to be seene.
where long and tedious houres she spendes, whilst studious she her booke
Reuoluing turnes, which customde vse, of tender yeares she tooke,
Till drowsie sleepe, her daceled eyes, soft stealing on, vp closde.
But when she thus a great part of the night had spent, reposde
At last in loftie bed of state, (as Princely Ladies are:)
with vowes deuout, of soule, and corps, she prayes high Ioue take care.
Then drencht in deepe sleepe rest she takes, forgetting fancies past,
Deepe silence dogges, and men, and beastes of saluage kind, had rought,
When Morpheus in her grandsiers shape, the God of dreames him brought,
Unto the Queene, (which long before, was in Sepulcher layd)
With beard downe dangling long, and head white hoar, and thus he sayd.
The dreame of Queene Anne wherein she was warned of her death at hand and of many other notable euentes.
Feare not my daughter Anne, nor at this vision trembling quake,
Behold thy Grandsier I, here present stand, of yore well knowne,
From all contagion earthly free, I dwell in heauenly throne,
Wherewith Ioues sacred ministers, I endlesse life obtaine,
To liue so, is to liue in deede, thou liu'st to dye agayne.
Prepare thy selfe with Sainctes in ioyes celestiall for to comme,
To Christ, which heauenly boures hath built, and sitts in highest rowme,
Desirous that his flocke, with him should raigne, Peace, endlesse blisse,
Tranquillitie secure in deede, no chaunce, nor chaunge there is.
What earthly honour can preuayle? what glory great of kings?
What pompous wealth aboundant? what rich pretious vestements brings?
What profite can bright purple robes? what glistering gemmes and gold?
Can they mens mindes once better? or the sling of plagues withhold?
Can they Deathes threatning dart, or vexing chaunces keepe away?
All earthly thinges perswade thy selfe, do frayle fall in decay,
On heauen thine eyelids firmely fixe, seeke heauenly kingdomes hie,
Which for Christes faythfull flocke, prepared are vndoubtedly.
Now to what end this talke doth tend, with minde attentiue know:
Foule enuie start with poysoning snakes, from gastly shadowes low:
With hatreds brandes the world perturbes, in Princes Courtes her nest
Erecting strong, that who so God, and Iustice, fauours best:
And gratious in his Prince his sight, with credit great doth grow:
So much the rather on his flesh, will enuious vipers gnow,
And worke will with such secrecie, that he shall not perceaue,
The venemous sting, till Atrapos his vitall breath bereaue,
And by dire destinies fatall doome, he be entombd in ground.
Thou knowest the mighty Britaine guide. by stablisht lawes profound,
In his hye Court of Parliament (where mixt in Counsell seat,
Both Peers, and People of the land, it earnest did intreat:)
His subtill vndermining fraude, now set abro{t}h, and knowne:
The Pope, with his Supremacie, out of his land hath throwne,
And that no Bulls, from Romish seat hereafter should be sought,
Whereby his pompe might be maintaind, by them in thousands bought.
Wherfore the prudent Monarch, hath from his dominions all,
And faultring dread lest that their fraude detected, and betrayde,
Should in her glosing colours be portraid, and brode bewrayde.
They shiuering feare lest that thy rule, their rage to ruine bring,
If fatall destinies in thy Prime thee with their bane should sting:
(For that those traitrous villaines brue) they would triumphing sing,
No farther dout, or daunger, then suspecting to impend.
Howbeit about the hugie world, Sir Titan shall not end,
Two times his wandring course, before that by the Counsailes hestes,
All Idolls, props supporting both the Pope, and shauen crestes:
Shall by deuouring greedy flames, be burnt, and turnde to nought,
And Images be battred downe, with stones, of marble wrought.
The floore of Ioues most sacred house, shall purg'd, and scoured bee.
Meane time O happy England through thy Region by decree,
Of Henry mighty king: the Crier shall promulgate loude,
That vnto carued stockes, or stones, no knee shall once be bowde.
These wondrous thinges thou shalt not see aliue, to come to passe.
But relickes of the Challice, and such dreggs, and trumperie trash,
Shall not till after Henries death be banisht backe to Rome,
From whence, as from the fountain head, and welspring, first they come.
A boy then with coruscant vertue deckt, deuoyde of crime,
Againe shall bring (to Sainctes celestiall deare) in happie time,
The sacred wourd of high Iehoue, then superstition vaine,
A foule, and filthy errour shall all desolate remaine,
For seuen yeares space, which so doth sticke vnto religious side:
As doth the clinging Iuie thrombe, fast to the Elme abide.
Almighty Ioue, to heauenly blisse shall first this springold call:
Before the worldes frayle glory, shall his hart seduce at all,
Or lusting flesh incense him, by suggestion vnto sinne,
A flattering foe, in floud of Acheron to plundge him in.
The seuenth yeare of his raigne, shall him bereaue of regall mace.
Whom after shall a married Queene succeed, in royall place,
The Pope reducing. Then shall wofull England sliding backe,
Fall prostrate downe to blockes, and ripp agayne the Romish pack.
If any man do mutter once, by conscience terrour stong,
Or once reuolue the testament, writt in his mother tong:
Or out of it conuince the Pope to swarue from law, and right,
In vaunting his authoritie, equall with Ioues almight,
With diuilish pride vp puft: he shall with scorching brands be burnd,
With raging fiers consuming force, his bones to ashes turnd.
And comne to riper yeares, shall Princely crowne, and rule sustaine.
A comfort to her countrie soyle, and solace to her frendes.
In whose most blessed raigne (such luckie fate, from heauen discendes)
Shall Britaine people liue in blisse, and England happy bee,
And vnder her good guidance liue, in long tranquillitie.
with Indies pretious marchaundise, the people shall abound,
The Pope reiect'd, and bannisht home, to coasts of Latian ground.
Shall onely for his owne precinctes, and bandes, be bad to care,
And in proud Rome, the sinke of vice, to set to sale his ware.
Here of the Popes Supremacie shall be the finall end,
Thy ofspring shall with cureles wound, his power vsurped rend.
Thenceforth, it shall not lawfull be, to Idolls for to bend,
Or pretious mirh, and Frankensence, on Alters to perfume.
Hereon in vayne the Pope, incensed woode, shall fret, and stume,
With gnashing teeth, and eke attempt by trecherous meanes to spill,
Thy blessed ofspring, lou'de of Ioue, whose Godhead guiding still,
And shielding her from scath, she shall her enemy quite downe borne:
In peace her kingdome rule, and age with honour high adorne.
Here yet against this Nimph, his furious rage he shall not stay,
Blacke venome belking out, and Aspis poyson dire alway.
(Who would beleue) to heauenly blisse, their soules he shall betake,
In wordes, which due obedience shall of their true Prince forsake.
But downe in deed to tormentes fell, them headlong shall deiect.
who rules in heauenly globe aboue, her shall from scath protect.
Elizabeth of Britaine soyle the guidance great, and stay,
Of female sexe, the noble name, and palme shall beare away.
But thee mine ofspring deare, vnlike in happy destinies vewe,
Unto thy daughters fate on earth, shall better fate insue.
God which with becke, the course of things doth rule, by power diuine,
Thee from the midst of worldly pompe, wherein thou now doest shine,
And earthly honour, shall extoll with Sainctes in heauens to dwell,
There are no blubbring teares, no mortall tong for truth can tell,
Nor of those euerlasting ioyes, mens mortall eares haue hard,
Not to be chaungd for pretious gold, a high, and rich reward.
Be not in minde dismayde, though mestiue message I foreshow,
The houre vnlookt for of thine end, with swift course on doth draw,
For within thirtie dayes, thou shalt outgasp thys vitall breath.
Howbeit this solace great, of me receaue, before thy death:
Elizabeth through wondrous actes, to starrs shall lift the name,
He sayd, and swift the flickering ghost, in thinne ayre fled away,
Forthwith resolu'de in chilly feare, the Princes members lay,
Long struggling with her selfe, in striuing last she sleepe of shakes:
with soddaine noyse astoinde, her chamber Ladies straight her takes,
Demaunding of her grace, why so vpstart she stood afright,
But silent, she all mestiue stayes, and rolling castes her sight.
At length, tell vs (quoth she) where any stood our b{ed} before,
(For all the auncient Britaine Kings, and Queenes haue vsd of yore,
To be by seruaunts watcht, whilst soft sleepe doth their eyelids fold.)
They aunswering, that they heard nor voyce, nor shape did once behold:
Then more agast, with grones, from hart rootes fotcht, she slilly sayd,
O highest, mightiest God, some mercy take of thy handmayd,
And through thy wondrous clemencie, thy seruaunts sinnes blot out.
These wordes with voyce submisse she spake, and turnd her selfe about.
More you my Ladies (for a troupe about her present weare)
I bid you all till mornyng gray, with radiant beames appeare,
Repose your selues agayne to sleepe, and take your quiet rest.
Some of the matrones through long vse, more wisedome shrind in brest,
And neare the stately bed, with carefull mindes sat watching still,
Attending what she shall require, commaund, or what she will.
Calme silence now ech wight, throughout the royall chamber rought,
The Queene her voyce vpclosd, and much reuoluing deepe in thought,
Not to the dearest of her frendes, she did her dreame bewray.
Forthwith resolu'de in chilly feare, the Princes members lay,
Long struggling with her selfe, in striuing last she sleepe of shakes:
with soddaine noyse astoinde, her chamber Ladies straight her takes,
Demaunding of her grace, why so vpstart she stood afright,
But silent, she all mestiue stayes, and rolling castes her sight.
At length, tell vs (quoth she) where any stood our b{ed} before,
(For all the auncient Britaine Kings, and Queenes haue vsd of yore,
To be by seruaunts watcht, whilst soft sleepe doth their eyelids fold.)
They aunswering, that they heard nor voyce, nor shape did once behold:
Then more agast, with grones, from hart rootes fotcht, she slilly sayd,
O highest, mightiest God, some mercy take of thy handmayd,
And through thy wondrous clemencie, thy seruaunts sinnes blot out.
These wordes with voyce submisse she spake, and turnd her selfe about.
More you my Ladies (for a troupe about her present weare)
I bid you all till mornyng gray, with radiant beames appeare,
Repose your selues agayne to sleepe, and take your quiet rest.
Some of the matrones through long vse, more wisedome shrind in brest,
And neare the stately bed, with carefull mindes sat watching still,
Attending what she shall require, commaund, or what she will.
Calme silence now ech wight, throughout the royall chamber rought,
The Queene her voyce vpclosd, and much reuoluing deepe in thought,
Not to the dearest of her frendes, she did her dreame bewray.
Now day light bright appeares, deuouring cares which wipes away.
when Phœbus with his glittering rayes, reioyseth mortall hartes,
And sicke, and pensiue wightes, incenseth on to pleasant partes.
Howbeit the bewtious Queene, in secret closet mestiue droupes,
Nor fragrant herbours gladsome seekes, attended with her troupes,
Of damsels bright, (as customde erst) but yeldes to grief as thrall.
When that these dolefull newes were blazde, in mighty Henries hall:
The Princely peers with countenance sad, demisde, their mone exprest,
The Courteours pensiue were, the king great grief conceau'de in brest,
And goes his feer to see, and her salutes with smiling cheare,
But when of these her dolefull panges, which ruthfull did appeare:
He could not wring the cause, with brinish teares his cheekes bedewd,
He turnes his face away, and much this heuie hap he rued.
But flexing time, with lingring tract, doth drierie dolours were,
And dartes of wounding cares, their pointes retorted, backe doth beare.
when that the noble Princesse, had the matter peisde aright,
And cald to minde, that daungers such and lucklesse chaunce, as might
Not be eschewde, must suffred be, and not bewailde with grief:
Few dayes expir{d}e, in robes of state, and Princely vestmentes chief,
All shining downe she comes, and musing, walkt in harbour greene.
By chaunce a Courtlike Lady than, prostrate on both her kneene,
I know not what petition made, of royall stocke esprong
Of mighty Peers, whose zelous loue, and secret truth erst long,
In sondry pointes she had foretride, to whom the Queene thus spake,
O trustie Lady, manifest do not our secretts make.
None present stands, we are alone, and leasure serues to talke,
(For far apart, the portlike troupe, of Britaine nimphes did walke)
(And opes her lipps for to proceede, and faultring shutts againe.)
At length she spake. when dulcett sleepe, me close in bed had laine:
My maydes secluded all: Inrold in earth, in elder yeares,
Ay me my Grandsier old, in antike forme, so brim appeares
As when he drew his vitall breath, he was vnto me knowne,
And in a long processe, my fatall houre hath to me showne:
Which in this month, insuing next, the destinies will procure.
The noble dame, salt trickling teares, bedewing her lookes demure:
Astoinsht, sobbing sayes, now God auert this bitter lot,
The fancies of your troubled braine so vayne, remember not,
But quite roote out, such parching thoughtes, as macerate your hart,
Out of a gladsome minde, fresh florishing age, doth bloming start,
Perplexing grief, hart strings of mortall men, vntimely freats,
And in his pinsers holding fast, their mindes with torture beats.
Meane tyme a page doth warne, the royall king for to approch.
But Anne desirous of her grief, the cause to set abroch
Unto her trustie frend her dreame in order doth declare,
And what the diuine oracles concerning England weare.
More of king Henries mightie race, what should be the successe.
Then of her tender Impe, in fine the fate she doth expresse.
Her willing, truth, and faythfull loue, toward her to maintaine,
Yet yong of yeares, which in processe, might recompence her payne.
Then to the goodly Prince her spouse, she lowlie doth incline,
For honours sake, who tokens great of loue, exprest that tyme:
Both ioyntly side, by side, the fragrant garden trace about,
Which sight the hartes did gladsome make, of all the vulgar rout.
Sir Titan Venus glorious house, in heauenly coape had past,
And some degrees incroching made, in signe adiacent fast,
Renowmed Anne for endlesse life, a short death doth exchaunge,
Deuouring cares expeld, and in celestiall coastes doth range.
Learne you that liue, what can, backbiting malice gobling fell.
Blacke Enuie, gastly hagg, neare happy liuers, still doth dwell,
Which filthy venome blew, of viperous tonges, insues as mate.
Religion, and worship true, of mightie Ioue, which sate,
All drownd, much like a burning coale, vp rakt in embers dead:
In happy dayes, of vertuous Anne, disclosd her burnisht head.
Of Anne, whose hand so bountifull, gaue almes vnto the pore,
Ech day, and feeble creeples lame, and people blind vp bore:
Ye wailyng widowes do lament, the black and dismall day,
Ye children eke of Siers bereft, which tooke this Queene away.
when Phœbus with his glittering rayes, reioyseth mortall hartes,
And sicke, and pensiue wightes, incenseth on to pleasant partes.
Howbeit the bewtious Queene, in secret closet mestiue droupes,
Nor fragrant herbours gladsome seekes, attended with her troupes,
Of damsels bright, (as customde erst) but yeldes to grief as thrall.
When that these dolefull newes were blazde, in mighty Henries hall:
The Princely peers with countenance sad, demisde, their mone exprest,
The Courteours pensiue were, the king great grief conceau'de in brest,
And goes his feer to see, and her salutes with smiling cheare,
But when of these her dolefull panges, which ruthfull did appeare:
He could not wring the cause, with brinish teares his cheekes bedewd,
He turnes his face away, and much this heuie hap he rued.
But flexing time, with lingring tract, doth drierie dolours were,
And dartes of wounding cares, their pointes retorted, backe doth beare.
And cald to minde, that daungers such and lucklesse chaunce, as might
Not be eschewde, must suffred be, and not bewailde with grief:
Few dayes expir{d}e, in robes of state, and Princely vestmentes chief,
All shining downe she comes, and musing, walkt in harbour greene.
By chaunce a Courtlike Lady than, prostrate on both her kneene,
I know not what petition made, of royall stocke esprong
Of mighty Peers, whose zelous loue, and secret truth erst long,
In sondry pointes she had foretride, to whom the Queene thus spake,
O trustie Lady, manifest do not our secretts make.
None present stands, we are alone, and leasure serues to talke,
(For far apart, the portlike troupe, of Britaine nimphes did walke)
(And opes her lipps for to proceede, and faultring shutts againe.)
At length she spake. when dulcett sleepe, me close in bed had laine:
My maydes secluded all: Inrold in earth, in elder yeares,
Ay me my Grandsier old, in antike forme, so brim appeares
As when he drew his vitall breath, he was vnto me knowne,
And in a long processe, my fatall houre hath to me showne:
Which in this month, insuing next, the destinies will procure.
The noble dame, salt trickling teares, bedewing her lookes demure:
Astoinsht, sobbing sayes, now God auert this bitter lot,
The fancies of your troubled braine so vayne, remember not,
But quite roote out, such parching thoughtes, as macerate your hart,
Out of a gladsome minde, fresh florishing age, doth bloming start,
Perplexing grief, hart strings of mortall men, vntimely freats,
And in his pinsers holding fast, their mindes with torture beats.
Meane tyme a page doth warne, the royall king for to approch.
But Anne desirous of her grief, the cause to set abroch
Unto her trustie frend her dreame in order doth declare,
And what the diuine oracles concerning England weare.
More of king Henries mightie race, what should be the successe.
Then of her tender Impe, in fine the fate she doth expresse.
Her willing, truth, and faythfull loue, toward her to maintaine,
Yet yong of yeares, which in processe, might recompence her payne.
Then to the goodly Prince her spouse, she lowlie doth incline,
For honours sake, who tokens great of loue, exprest that tyme:
Both ioyntly side, by side, the fragrant garden trace about,
Which sight the hartes did gladsome make, of all the vulgar rout.
Sir Titan Venus glorious house, in heauenly coape had past,
Renowmed Anne for endlesse life, a short death doth exchaunge,
Deuouring cares expeld, and in celestiall coastes doth range.
Learne you that liue, what can, backbiting malice gobling fell.
Blacke Enuie, gastly hagg, neare happy liuers, still doth dwell,
Which filthy venome blew, of viperous tonges, insues as mate.
Religion, and worship true, of mightie Ioue, which sate,
All drownd, much like a burning coale, vp rakt in embers dead:
In happy dayes, of vertuous Anne, disclosd her burnisht head.
Of Anne, whose hand so bountifull, gaue almes vnto the pore,
Ech day, and feeble creeples lame, and people blind vp bore:
Ye wailyng widowes do lament, the black and dismall day,
Ye children eke of Siers bereft, which tooke this Queene away.
The Lady Iane, of Seimers bloud, stout Henry mightie king.
In holy wedlocke rites espousd, from which a babe did spring,
A boy of wondrous towardnes, and manly vertue cleare.
He was by sacred muses reard, and fostred vp most deare.
To him in tender age, Elizabeth coequall cleft,
Aa both to soone in springing yeares, of noble dames bereft.
Howbeit that carefull prouidence, in Henries brest was shrind,
That he a man of knowledge deepe, them to instruct assignd.
The day in diuers partes was cut, for diuers studies fitt,
Euen with Syr Titans springing lampe, they at their bookes doe sitt.
These vertuous Impes, now this, now that, with mindes intentiue reed.
First Iesus Christ, instilled was, their endlesse blisse to breed,
The life, the rocke, the tracked path, to them which dread the Lord.
Then bookes of ciuill gouernement, which preceptes did afford,
And other noble Artes beside, for royall children meet.
Sound knowledge daily did increase, and ripe wit polisht neet,
Renowmed Henryes ardent loue, towardes them kindled more,
And fauour of the Britaine Peers obtaind, and commons lore,
Elizabeth three yeares by byrth, her brother went before,
Inferiour in her sexe, but for bicause of riper age:
Desirous laud, and prayse to winne, free from fell enuious rage:
And that her brother Prince, incenst by her proceedings, might
Be spurd more ardent, to attaine to Vertues sacred light:
She here desistes, and qualities beseeming her degree,
She practisd els beside. Now silken vesture holdeth she,
In lilly handes, and fitting fine, with pliant fingers small:
With needle worke imbrodereth rich, and ouerspreadeth all.
Mineruaes pretious webbe, the vewers would haue voucht it sure,
The hemmes distinguisht with a gard, of glistering mettall pure.
Now doth she exercise her selfe, of solempne Lute to play,
On warbling stringes, now more, now lesse, sad dumpes to driue away.
The Nightingale her chirping voyce, so diuers scarse could make,
Diuided into sondry tunes: as she most sweetly strake,
With quauering fingers small, and gentle touching of the strings.
All men admiring much, whence that celestiall Musicke springs.
Where daintie cates on tables spred, they were to take repast:
Or after viandes all remou'de, in galleries they wast,
The time: or els in gardens fresh, of fragrant sauour walke,
Of vertue, of Religion true, of sayings wise, her talke
Should still be framde, both godly speach, and true, she alwayes vsde,
A token plaine, how that her hart, the spot of vice refusde.
In old Palæmons learned Art, they both most skilfull weare.
The Prince, and Lady eke, so deepe ingraft in minde did beare,
The Greekish phrase with Latine speach conioynd, that in short space,
Once reeding would suffise, to vnderstand the hardest place.
That of the hugie world so vast, where Phœbus globe hath flamde,
The lad the Phœnix might be calld, the virgin Pallas namde.
In holy wedlocke rites espousd, from which a babe did spring,
A boy of wondrous towardnes, and manly vertue cleare.
He was by sacred muses reard, and fostred vp most deare.
To him in tender age, Elizabeth coequall cleft,
Aa both to soone in springing yeares, of noble dames bereft.
Howbeit that carefull prouidence, in Henries brest was shrind,
That he a man of knowledge deepe, them to instruct assignd.
The day in diuers partes was cut, for diuers studies fitt,
Euen with Syr Titans springing lampe, they at their bookes doe sitt.
These vertuous Impes, now this, now that, with mindes intentiue reed.
First Iesus Christ, instilled was, their endlesse blisse to breed,
The life, the rocke, the tracked path, to them which dread the Lord.
Then bookes of ciuill gouernement, which preceptes did afford,
And other noble Artes beside, for royall children meet.
Sound knowledge daily did increase, and ripe wit polisht neet,
Renowmed Henryes ardent loue, towardes them kindled more,
And fauour of the Britaine Peers obtaind, and commons lore,
Elizabeth three yeares by byrth, her brother went before,
Inferiour in her sexe, but for bicause of riper age:
Desirous laud, and prayse to winne, free from fell enuious rage:
And that her brother Prince, incenst by her proceedings, might
Be spurd more ardent, to attaine to Vertues sacred light:
She here desistes, and qualities beseeming her degree,
She practisd els beside. Now silken vesture holdeth she,
In lilly handes, and fitting fine, with pliant fingers small:
Mineruaes pretious webbe, the vewers would haue voucht it sure,
The hemmes distinguisht with a gard, of glistering mettall pure.
Now doth she exercise her selfe, of solempne Lute to play,
On warbling stringes, now more, now lesse, sad dumpes to driue away.
The Nightingale her chirping voyce, so diuers scarse could make,
Diuided into sondry tunes: as she most sweetly strake,
With quauering fingers small, and gentle touching of the strings.
All men admiring much, whence that celestiall Musicke springs.
Where daintie cates on tables spred, they were to take repast:
Or after viandes all remou'de, in galleries they wast,
The time: or els in gardens fresh, of fragrant sauour walke,
Of vertue, of Religion true, of sayings wise, her talke
Should still be framde, both godly speach, and true, she alwayes vsde,
A token plaine, how that her hart, the spot of vice refusde.
In old Palæmons learned Art, they both most skilfull weare.
The Prince, and Lady eke, so deepe ingraft in minde did beare,
The Greekish phrase with Latine speach conioynd, that in short space,
Once reeding would suffise, to vnderstand the hardest place.
That of the hugie world so vast, where Phœbus globe hath flamde,
The lad the Phœnix might be calld, the virgin Pallas namde.
Meane time with crooked age effeebled, Henry yeldes the ghost,
whose death as hartes of Brutes it rent, and mindes perplexing tost:
So doth his heyre apparant then, with ioyes their brestes comfort,
Incensing them to solempne mirth, and ioyes and pleasant sport.
Elizabeth reuenewes large, takes by her fathers hest,
which her, of yearely rentes, beseeming her degree possest,
Of Princelike houses stately built, and massie heapes of gold.
wherfore far from the royall Court, in countrie she doth hold
Herselfe alone, accompanied with her most carefull guide,
A woman of great maiestie, of noble bloud beside,
which alwayes in societie, to this yong Impe was tide.
Admonishing with councell good, and exhortations wise,
What as conuenient, she should brooke, and what agayne despise.
whose death as hartes of Brutes it rent, and mindes perplexing tost:
So doth his heyre apparant then, with ioyes their brestes comfort,
Incensing them to solempne mirth, and ioyes and pleasant sport.
Elizabeth reuenewes large, takes by her fathers hest,
which her, of yearely rentes, beseeming her degree possest,
Of Princelike houses stately built, and massie heapes of gold.
wherfore far from the royall Court, in countrie she doth hold
Herselfe alone, accompanied with her most carefull guide,
A woman of great maiestie, of noble bloud beside,
which alwayes in societie, to this yong Impe was tide.
Admonishing with councell good, and exhortations wise,
What as conuenient, she should brooke, and what agayne despise.
Of twise seuen yeares, the tender age she scarse had fully tract,
When that mature, the virgin might, for spousall rites exact,
when as behold, with portlike trayne, one vnkle to the king,
Himselfe vnto her Princely house, in pompous sort did bring,
And doth the tender Lady bright, with much ambition woe,
Forthwith through shame, with blushing hewe, her eares did burning gloe
Attending not what Hymen ment, nor what this wooing Peere,
With earnest sute did pray. Wherefore he parteth nothing neere.
But he insistes againe, and vrgeth more his sute to winne,
Till from the princely Nimphe, he had that finall answeare gin,
Declared by her gouernesse, he labour lost in vayne.
More, that it better were, from his attemptes soone to abstayne.
That fixt it sate in royall brest, of the high Lady bright,
Not to be linkt, in wedlocke bandes, to any Britaine wight,
Of Lordes estate: forgetting not, her father, famous king,
And from what mightie auncestours, she by discent did spring.
Who would not here admire the noble courage of her minde?
Yet soft through tender yeares, of roiall kinges, the gentle kinde.
Who would not wonder at her stomacke haut? far from the lure,
Of Cupids bow, which offered bandes of wedlocke, might procure
Hereto accept. wherefore she seelde out from her stately boures
Proceedes, or ruling Brother greetes, or Londons pompous toures,
Doth ride to see, lesse called forth, on matters of great waight.
Unto the Prince his maiestie, she then declining straight,
Th'almightie king of kinges doth pray, for to preserue his grace.
Forthwith, with swift course backe retiring to her dwelling place,
On pleasaunt hill erect, which champion fieldes, of Flora Queene,
Adiacent doth behold, neere fountaines bright, and riuers greene:
Beset with trembling Aspe, and Beech, and Okes of wondrous hight.
There Nightingales with chirping tunes, melodious breede delight,
And whistling Throssell, which frequentes the brierie shrubby thorne.
Hereunto studies such addict, as chiefly might adorne,
The daughter of so great a Prince, with loue, and laud of all,
Were they estates of hye degree, or meaner Fortunes thrall:
The royall Nimphe, the sliding tract, of her life doth contere,
(When sacred rites of funerall, performde to Henry were)
Whilest Phœbe thou with thy furious steedes, whose nostrels sparkling flakes,
Out blastes, in heauenly pole sixt times the signes, thou ouertakes.
Sometimes she greeuous plaintes doth make, of valiant Sire bereft,
Her selfe all left alone, the fickle worldes collusions left:
Which of the greatest part, are wondered at, and high extold,
In ciuill broiles, and combrous toiles, which doe themselues infold,
Whereas from such vexations free, they may at home remayne,
Sometime her spirits reuiues, her brothers prosperous state againe.
Her future Destinie witting not, procurde by powers deuine,
That she a regall port should beare, and great in glory shine,
Amidst the troupes of Britaine Peeres, though now she frequente hate.
In the seuenth yeare, that royall Prince, did yeeld to drierie Fate
The vertuous Edward, Britaines stay, and comfort of their land.
The raynes of regall gouernment, straight Mary takes in hand,
And popish trompery dregges, establisht sets againe aloofe,
By Parliament, confirming lawes, new for the Popes behoofe:
Such as her famous brother had set downe, extincted cleane.
Here straight a rablement of priestes, with oile annointed gleene
Throughout the land, like Bacchanalles and fiers, with red bloud feed.
If any godly were, and Iesu lou'de, he had for meed
His bowels broild with scorching brandes, and bones consumde to nought.
But some by warning sent from God (for so beleue we ought)
And harkening to the powers deuine, by fight their safegard sought.
Their natiue country, Parentes deare, and frendes forsaken quite.
Which, chaunge succeeding Edwardes death, a number did incite,
With heartes, estraungd from Britaine soile, to liue in forraine landes.
He fled in externe nations strates, he hating blouddy hands,
And rage, of that massacring crue, seekes meanes those euils to shunne.
When here (out, out, for shame) a great commotion was begunne,
The deadliest rage, and sharpest scourge, that can on kingdomes fall.
Now these, now those, the quest attainted doth of treason call.
In prisons strong a wondrous rout, of Brutus race were pent,
But manie more to glomy streames, of Stigie lake were sent.
Within the mighty Tower as soone as Courtney Earle vp closde:
Was to his certaine day of triall, to descend reposde:
The glorious Prelate proud, outragious wroth, did fretting chaufe,
With troublous conscience vext subuersion dreading, of thinges saufe
Which were not to be feard. Yea bitter Hatreds poysned sting,
Thee, and thy state, Elizabeth, did in suspicion bring,
Of eraced faith, towardes the Crowne, That thou deuoyd of crime
Hast liu'd, whose brightnesse of the minde, did so coruscant shine,
That Enuies eies, with radiant beames, it dazeled till this time:
Ath, swoln with venombd malice fell, the holy sort forgettes.
Which vile impatient crue, with wrathfull anger furious frettes,
Till that the sielie lambe, (howbeit her keepers, courteous were)
(For God the wolues had driuen away:) ydrencht, in deepe dispaire,
In prison close was kept, all liberties freedome tane away,
That light affliction, and this gentle penaunce, did display
The better knowledge, of the Lord, that so she might attaine
Wisedome more deepe, which trace of time, to mortall men doth gaine.
Such like affliction, mixt with griping cares, thy graundsier olde,
To wondrous wisedome rare renowmed Henry seuenth extolde,
which of an other Salomon, the noble name doth hold.
Euen as a date tree downe depres'd, doth loftier lift her top,
And how much more with boistrous blastes, Sir Æol sturres to stop,
Her perching groth, by so much more, in highe she liftes her bowes:
So through backbiting viperous tongues, the Lady nobler growes.
And whome pernitious Enuies peise, downe keepes, her Vertues light,
Through constant minde extolles, to starrie region, shining bright.
Howbeit the vile masse mungring crue, lamented at their hart,
That th'end expected had not tane, their false, and trecherous part.
Wherefore new guiles they do deferre, vntill a time more fit,
And to themselues this kingdome vowe, in hope, if that it hit,
That in their secret trappes now laid, the Britaine heire doe fall:
When that mature, the virgin might, for spousall rites exact,
when as behold, with portlike trayne, one vnkle to the king,
Himselfe vnto her Princely house, in pompous sort did bring,
And doth the tender Lady bright, with much ambition woe,
Attending not what Hymen ment, nor what this wooing Peere,
With earnest sute did pray. Wherefore he parteth nothing neere.
But he insistes againe, and vrgeth more his sute to winne,
Till from the princely Nimphe, he had that finall answeare gin,
Declared by her gouernesse, he labour lost in vayne.
More, that it better were, from his attemptes soone to abstayne.
That fixt it sate in royall brest, of the high Lady bright,
Not to be linkt, in wedlocke bandes, to any Britaine wight,
Of Lordes estate: forgetting not, her father, famous king,
And from what mightie auncestours, she by discent did spring.
Who would not here admire the noble courage of her minde?
Yet soft through tender yeares, of roiall kinges, the gentle kinde.
Who would not wonder at her stomacke haut? far from the lure,
Of Cupids bow, which offered bandes of wedlocke, might procure
Hereto accept. wherefore she seelde out from her stately boures
Proceedes, or ruling Brother greetes, or Londons pompous toures,
Doth ride to see, lesse called forth, on matters of great waight.
Unto the Prince his maiestie, she then declining straight,
Th'almightie king of kinges doth pray, for to preserue his grace.
Forthwith, with swift course backe retiring to her dwelling place,
On pleasaunt hill erect, which champion fieldes, of Flora Queene,
Adiacent doth behold, neere fountaines bright, and riuers greene:
Beset with trembling Aspe, and Beech, and Okes of wondrous hight.
There Nightingales with chirping tunes, melodious breede delight,
And whistling Throssell, which frequentes the brierie shrubby thorne.
Hereunto studies such addict, as chiefly might adorne,
The daughter of so great a Prince, with loue, and laud of all,
Were they estates of hye degree, or meaner Fortunes thrall:
The royall Nimphe, the sliding tract, of her life doth contere,
(When sacred rites of funerall, performde to Henry were)
Whilest Phœbe thou with thy furious steedes, whose nostrels sparkling flakes,
Out blastes, in heauenly pole sixt times the signes, thou ouertakes.
Sometimes she greeuous plaintes doth make, of valiant Sire bereft,
Her selfe all left alone, the fickle worldes collusions left:
Which of the greatest part, are wondered at, and high extold,
In ciuill broiles, and combrous toiles, which doe themselues infold,
Whereas from such vexations free, they may at home remayne,
Sometime her spirits reuiues, her brothers prosperous state againe.
That she a regall port should beare, and great in glory shine,
Amidst the troupes of Britaine Peeres, though now she frequente hate.
In the seuenth yeare, that royall Prince, did yeeld to drierie Fate
The vertuous Edward, Britaines stay, and comfort of their land.
The raynes of regall gouernment, straight Mary takes in hand,
And popish trompery dregges, establisht sets againe aloofe,
By Parliament, confirming lawes, new for the Popes behoofe:
Such as her famous brother had set downe, extincted cleane.
Here straight a rablement of priestes, with oile annointed gleene
Throughout the land, like Bacchanalles and fiers, with red bloud feed.
If any godly were, and Iesu lou'de, he had for meed
His bowels broild with scorching brandes, and bones consumde to nought.
But some by warning sent from God (for so beleue we ought)
And harkening to the powers deuine, by fight their safegard sought.
Their natiue country, Parentes deare, and frendes forsaken quite.
Which, chaunge succeeding Edwardes death, a number did incite,
With heartes, estraungd from Britaine soile, to liue in forraine landes.
He fled in externe nations strates, he hating blouddy hands,
And rage, of that massacring crue, seekes meanes those euils to shunne.
When here (out, out, for shame) a great commotion was begunne,
The deadliest rage, and sharpest scourge, that can on kingdomes fall.
Now these, now those, the quest attainted doth of treason call.
In prisons strong a wondrous rout, of Brutus race were pent,
But manie more to glomy streames, of Stigie lake were sent.
Within the mighty Tower as soone as Courtney Earle vp closde:
Was to his certaine day of triall, to descend reposde:
The glorious Prelate proud, outragious wroth, did fretting chaufe,
With troublous conscience vext subuersion dreading, of thinges saufe
Which were not to be feard. Yea bitter Hatreds poysned sting,
Thee, and thy state, Elizabeth, did in suspicion bring,
Of eraced faith, towardes the Crowne, That thou deuoyd of crime
Hast liu'd, whose brightnesse of the minde, did so coruscant shine,
That Enuies eies, with radiant beames, it dazeled till this time:
Ath, swoln with venombd malice fell, the holy sort forgettes.
Which vile impatient crue, with wrathfull anger furious frettes,
Till that the sielie lambe, (howbeit her keepers, courteous were)
(For God the wolues had driuen away:) ydrencht, in deepe dispaire,
In prison close was kept, all liberties freedome tane away,
The better knowledge, of the Lord, that so she might attaine
Wisedome more deepe, which trace of time, to mortall men doth gaine.
Such like affliction, mixt with griping cares, thy graundsier olde,
To wondrous wisedome rare renowmed Henry seuenth extolde,
which of an other Salomon, the noble name doth hold.
Euen as a date tree downe depres'd, doth loftier lift her top,
And how much more with boistrous blastes, Sir Æol sturres to stop,
Her perching groth, by so much more, in highe she liftes her bowes:
So through backbiting viperous tongues, the Lady nobler growes.
And whome pernitious Enuies peise, downe keepes, her Vertues light,
Through constant minde extolles, to starrie region, shining bright.
Howbeit the vile masse mungring crue, lamented at their hart,
That th'end expected had not tane, their false, and trecherous part.
Wherefore new guiles they do deferre, vntill a time more fit,
And to themselues this kingdome vowe, in hope, if that it hit,
That in their secret trappes now laid, the Britaine heire doe fall:
Meane time their furious rage doth roame, and tortures vseth all,
Aboundant streames of Christian bloud, most ruthfull, moistes the land,
And goarie flouds, alacke in pooles, of hit reiected, stand.
Ay me, and waile a day, young childrens corpes, fire brandes deuoures,
And difference none put twixt their sexe, both men, and weomen, scoures.
For he gainst Ioue almightie, is a foe outragious thought,
If anie man his enemie, the Romish bishop {c}ought,
Out of the word of God, which takes away Christes honor due.
And falsely, white that thing affirmes, which is of duskish hue.
Yea so his heynous trecheries, with gloses couered beene,
As at no time, our graundsiers olde, in elder age haue seene.
That both the sense of touching, and of tast, doe fading fayle.
If that ye take that priuiledge from bodies, what auayle,
Can th'eare, or twinckling eie, vnto what vse shall {s}ingers stand?
Aa, haa, in deepe Charibdis gulfe yplung'd, the Britaine land
For very grief doth grone, and ginnes of safetie to dispaire,
Howbeit the ghost diuine of Ioue, her pitying vnaware:
which with his becke the heauens, and seas, and earthly regions shakes,
For the afflicted English state, a gratefull plaister makes.
For from their hie vsurped seates, proud potentates are drawne,
Downe headlong to the ground, which reuerent worship to be showne,
Bad vnto Idols wrought in woode, or forgo of moulten brasse
Queene Mary laid in molde, the Prælate doth bewaile, alas.
In dolefull plaintes, scarse daring now one muttering word to speake
And he which lately raging woode, would out in rayling breake,
Against the mightie sonne of God, now murmuring, mournes his fill.
Much like, as when the greedy Stork, with peck of nooked bill,
The Captayne Frogge with blouddy wound, his corps dispoyld, doth kill.
The puddle neere adioynd is whust, the Commons croking bray,
For very dread stickes in their iawes, their leader made away,
Their trembling heartes astonisht makes, and mindes doth sore afray.
Such is the inconuenience, to be bereft of guide,
Therefore the Popes supporters chiefe, subuerted, and destride,
The Princesse eke by destinies dome cut off, his surest stay:
He banisht is this land. Elizabeth in happie day,
Obtaines her fathers royall seat, as Morpheus had before,
In vision brimme exprest. A time which merites to be bore,
In euerlasting memory, and euer solempne thought,
Wherein the princely Diademe, this vertuous Lady rought,
Reuiuing Britaines heartes, in sobbing sighes, and brinish teares,
I plunged erst. Nouembers day, which seuenteenth bright appeares,
As happie, vnto Brutus race, so celebrate shall be.
In which the Queene to London Towre, with solempne pompe, and glee,
Most royally was brought, with horsemen troupes ygarded round.
Before her aged Sires, young men, and children, all the ground.
Bespreading, trampling fast, and Lords, and seruauntes, thrunging throngs.
If that I had an hundreth mouthes, so many sounding tongues,
If that their learning, Muses nine, yea Helicone spring,
Had powrd into my brest, I could not Britaines ioyes here sing,
With which they floed in euery street, nor yet their bonefiers tell,
which burnt throughout all Albion coastes, and thousandes signes aswell,
Of gladsome mirth, which were exprest, in eche page of the land.
what shall I here declare, how thousandes thick in plumps did stand,
In euery streete? our Cryers voyce in midst of London blowne:
Long may remaine on earth, the Nimph, suruiuour, left alone,
Of her renowmed Sier the onely heire, long may she liue,
Full many a yeare to Britaines, lawes let her ther Princesse giue:
Elizabeth, and conquerour, triumph on all her foes.
In honour of whose house, is gin the white, and purple rose.
Forthwith a solempne pompe was made with celebration great,
Both Primates, Dukes, and Earles, and Lordes, and Barons, ready waite,
Their dueties to discharge, in glistering purple curious dight,
By which the Queene was to be crown'd, with Diademe blasing bright:
And with deuotion pure, on thundring Ioue high thankes bestowe.
At length in Peters sacred house, her Grace was couched lowe.
The assembly all did pray, Elizabeth deuoutly praide.
A Crowne, with pretious stones imbosd, vpon her head was laide.
The people vowes out powring, and the priest, beseeching Ioue,
That he would fauour her attemptes, and her proceedings loue.
Supporting what she enterprisde, and her indeuours beare.
According to this nations guise, when all thinges ended were:
The royall banquett finisht eke: forthwith was mention made,
Of common weales affaires, of bringing backe the Christian trade,
In worshipping th'almightie God, which falne was in decay,
Defilde with filthie blot: as rust, with time on Ire doth lay.
The Counsayle sage, with prudent mindes, indeuouring still: at last
The noble Queene breakes vp. From sacred temples masse out cast,
Religion chefly was respect'd, next common weales affaires.
Forthwith Gods word Diuine, in th'English tongue, the Prince repaires.
By whose great bountie, honour hie, the Clergy had them showne,
which did affirme by knowledge deepe, that in a language knowne
we ought to pray, and mightie Ioue, for needfull thinges beseech,
In vulgar tongue, that euery man might vnderstand the speech:
That was the same, that learned Paule most earnest did perswade,
Proue, and inculke into mens heartes: in vayne that vowes were made,
Unlesse the inward heartes affect, with the outward signe agree.
As with the swett of labouring swaine, the light chaffe vp doth flee,
By force of Fanne, into the aire, the barne floores purged cleene:
Or as a gorgeous house, of Cobwebs clensde, more neete doth sheene:
So first the Idolls battered downe, are sacred temples swept,
with broames, vndecent popery dregges, and filthie drosse surrept:
with nooked teeth of rake, which did repugne the word diuine.
Religion setled on her feete, now bolt vpright did shine,
Our sauiour Christ, the very lambe, of God is knowne to be,
The fragile world, from all offence, and sinne, which quited free:
Not Indulgencies from the Pope, which money may obtayne.
More, that with greater prouidence, [illeg.] holy rites agayne
Might in Ioues house repaire, and Iesus worship stablisht right,
And that her own, and kingdomes state, she circumspectly might
Haue seene vnto, (nor this was done, but by Ioues mighty hest)
The Prince with deepe perseuerance, scelected of the best
Of Britaine states, a fewe, which long vse had with wisedome frought,
And learning eke, Parnassus Nimphes to deck their wits had brought,
By which proppes of eternall Fame, vnder a mayden Queene,
Renowmed England through the world, is bright blazed to beseene.
Aboundant streames of Christian bloud, most ruthfull, moistes the land,
And goarie flouds, alacke in pooles, of hit reiected, stand.
Ay me, and waile a day, young childrens corpes, fire brandes deuoures,
And difference none put twixt their sexe, both men, and weomen, scoures.
For he gainst Ioue almightie, is a foe outragious thought,
If anie man his enemie, the Romish bishop {c}ought,
Out of the word of God, which takes away Christes honor due.
And falsely, white that thing affirmes, which is of duskish hue.
Yea so his heynous trecheries, with gloses couered beene,
As at no time, our graundsiers olde, in elder age haue seene.
That both the sense of touching, and of tast, doe fading fayle.
If that ye take that priuiledge from bodies, what auayle,
Can th'eare, or twinckling eie, vnto what vse shall {s}ingers stand?
Aa, haa, in deepe Charibdis gulfe yplung'd, the Britaine land
For very grief doth grone, and ginnes of safetie to dispaire,
Howbeit the ghost diuine of Ioue, her pitying vnaware:
which with his becke the heauens, and seas, and earthly regions shakes,
For the afflicted English state, a gratefull plaister makes.
For from their hie vsurped seates, proud potentates are drawne,
Downe headlong to the ground, which reuerent worship to be showne,
Bad vnto Idols wrought in woode, or forgo of moulten brasse
In dolefull plaintes, scarse daring now one muttering word to speake
And he which lately raging woode, would out in rayling breake,
Against the mightie sonne of God, now murmuring, mournes his fill.
Much like, as when the greedy Stork, with peck of nooked bill,
The Captayne Frogge with blouddy wound, his corps dispoyld, doth kill.
The puddle neere adioynd is whust, the Commons croking bray,
For very dread stickes in their iawes, their leader made away,
Their trembling heartes astonisht makes, and mindes doth sore afray.
Such is the inconuenience, to be bereft of guide,
Therefore the Popes supporters chiefe, subuerted, and destride,
The Princesse eke by destinies dome cut off, his surest stay:
He banisht is this land. Elizabeth in happie day,
Obtaines her fathers royall seat, as Morpheus had before,
In vision brimme exprest. A time which merites to be bore,
In euerlasting memory, and euer solempne thought,
Wherein the princely Diademe, this vertuous Lady rought,
Reuiuing Britaines heartes, in sobbing sighes, and brinish teares,
I plunged erst. Nouembers day, which seuenteenth bright appeares,
As happie, vnto Brutus race, so celebrate shall be.
In which the Queene to London Towre, with solempne pompe, and glee,
Most royally was brought, with horsemen troupes ygarded round.
Before her aged Sires, young men, and children, all the ground.
Bespreading, trampling fast, and Lords, and seruauntes, thrunging throngs.
If that I had an hundreth mouthes, so many sounding tongues,
If that their learning, Muses nine, yea Helicone spring,
Had powrd into my brest, I could not Britaines ioyes here sing,
With which they floed in euery street, nor yet their bonefiers tell,
which burnt throughout all Albion coastes, and thousandes signes aswell,
Of gladsome mirth, which were exprest, in eche page of the land.
what shall I here declare, how thousandes thick in plumps did stand,
In euery streete? our Cryers voyce in midst of London blowne:
Long may remaine on earth, the Nimph, suruiuour, left alone,
Of her renowmed Sier the onely heire, long may she liue,
Full many a yeare to Britaines, lawes let her ther Princesse giue:
Elizabeth, and conquerour, triumph on all her foes.
In honour of whose house, is gin the white, and purple rose.
Forthwith a solempne pompe was made with celebration great,
Both Primates, Dukes, and Earles, and Lordes, and Barons, ready waite,
By which the Queene was to be crown'd, with Diademe blasing bright:
And with deuotion pure, on thundring Ioue high thankes bestowe.
At length in Peters sacred house, her Grace was couched lowe.
The assembly all did pray, Elizabeth deuoutly praide.
A Crowne, with pretious stones imbosd, vpon her head was laide.
The people vowes out powring, and the priest, beseeching Ioue,
That he would fauour her attemptes, and her proceedings loue.
Supporting what she enterprisde, and her indeuours beare.
According to this nations guise, when all thinges ended were:
The royall banquett finisht eke: forthwith was mention made,
Of common weales affaires, of bringing backe the Christian trade,
In worshipping th'almightie God, which falne was in decay,
Defilde with filthie blot: as rust, with time on Ire doth lay.
The Counsayle sage, with prudent mindes, indeuouring still: at last
The noble Queene breakes vp. From sacred temples masse out cast,
Religion chefly was respect'd, next common weales affaires.
Forthwith Gods word Diuine, in th'English tongue, the Prince repaires.
By whose great bountie, honour hie, the Clergy had them showne,
which did affirme by knowledge deepe, that in a language knowne
we ought to pray, and mightie Ioue, for needfull thinges beseech,
In vulgar tongue, that euery man might vnderstand the speech:
That was the same, that learned Paule most earnest did perswade,
Proue, and inculke into mens heartes: in vayne that vowes were made,
Unlesse the inward heartes affect, with the outward signe agree.
As with the swett of labouring swaine, the light chaffe vp doth flee,
By force of Fanne, into the aire, the barne floores purged cleene:
Or as a gorgeous house, of Cobwebs clensde, more neete doth sheene:
So first the Idolls battered downe, are sacred temples swept,
with broames, vndecent popery dregges, and filthie drosse surrept:
with nooked teeth of rake, which did repugne the word diuine.
Religion setled on her feete, now bolt vpright did shine,
Our sauiour Christ, the very lambe, of God is knowne to be,
The fragile world, from all offence, and sinne, which quited free:
Not Indulgencies from the Pope, which money may obtayne.
More, that with greater prouidence, [illeg.] holy rites agayne
Might in Ioues house repaire, and Iesus worship stablisht right,
And that her own, and kingdomes state, she circumspectly might
Haue seene vnto, (nor this was done, but by Ioues mighty hest)
Of Britaine states, a fewe, which long vse had with wisedome frought,
And learning eke, Parnassus Nimphes to deck their wits had brought,
By which proppes of eternall Fame, vnder a mayden Queene,
Renowmed England through the world, is bright blazed to beseene.
First of her Counsayle Bacon was a wise and prudent Knight,
Of polisht wit, who Britaine lawes, by iudgement scand aright,
Whose sweete and sugred eloquence, in midst of Counsaile sage:
Hath such his endles Fame atchiu'de, that though Fates headlong rage.
Him hath destroide, he liues, and after death his vertues blaze.
Lord Chauncelour he of England, and the Brodeseales keeper was.
Of polisht wit, who Britaine lawes, by iudgement scand aright,
Whose sweete and sugred eloquence, in midst of Counsaile sage:
Hath such his endles Fame atchiu'de, that though Fates headlong rage.
Him hath destroide, he liues, and after death his vertues blaze.
Lord Chauncelour he of England, and the Brodeseales keeper was.
Whose honourable seat, Sir Thomas Bromeley doth beseeme,
Thought worthie of that dignitie, by censure of the Queene.
The prudent troupe of Senatours, their suffrage yealding like.
Which lawes in equall ballance weyes, and cancelling out doth strike,
Which ouer ponderous to him seemes, that, which is good, and right,
May thereof spring, and middle place possest may Vertue bright.
Thought worthie of that dignitie, by censure of the Queene.
The prudent troupe of Senatours, their suffrage yealding like.
Which lawes in equall ballance weyes, and cancelling out doth strike,
Which ouer ponderous to him seemes, that, which is good, and right,
May thereof spring, and middle place possest may Vertue bright.
Next thy Lord Marques (Winchester) his worthie seat did take,
Renowmed whom the title high, of Treasurer did make
A man of wondrous grauitie, whilst that he ran his race,
On earth, but crookt through age at last, to destinie he gaue place,
Renowmed whom the title high, of Treasurer did make
A man of wondrous grauitie, whilst that he ran his race,
On earth, but crookt through age at last, to destinie he gaue place,
Before all these came forth, blacke frowning Fortune spurning back
Whose faith in danger dire at hand, from sincere heart extract,
The Prince had tried, Lord Cicill, and of all the Counsaile sage,
By Princesse verdict chiefe assignd, now stroke with drowping age,
And worne in yeares, with study leane, and sickly on his feat.
For great affaires, white hoary heares and crooked age to fleet,
Doe cause before their time, which then scarse fortie yeares had rought.
Seldome to sleepe addict, from slender diett seldome brought.
Still graue, and modest found, at no time giuen to dallying play,
Where that he talkt, or musing sate, it earnest was alway.
A fautor of religion true, of right he studious was,
In this our age, thinges of great waight, borne for to bring to passe.
Whose loue towardes his natiue soile, and faith, towardes his Queene,
Whose wisedome, busied still about his countries causes seene:
Beyond Europa borders, hath atchiu'd him endles Fame,
Nor here he first to aid his Prince, with learned counsell came:
For in king Edwardes noble Court, he wondrous credite wanne,
And Counsellour to his leich to be, in bloming youth began
When mongst the Britaine Peeres, he hurlie burlie tumultes, wrought
By prudent circumspection, to quaile, and bring to nought.
And whil'st some others furrowes deepe, in gurtie channels cast,
Their hollow hulls tos'd, and turmoild, with Æolls whurling blast:
And sometime downe with headlong fall the infernall pitts do see:
He both his honour, and his seat, and name preserueth free.
How wary in Queene Maryes daies, he did himselfe behaue,
And sailes which hung aloft at Mast, to windes relenting gaue,
Because it better is, to yeeld, to rough and mightie force,
Of raging floud, then stand against, and to resist his course,
which doth a deadly perill prest, and certaine harme procure:
By iudgement plaine, apparant doth expresse his wisedome sure:
That for sixe yeares, amidst his foes, vnhurt he vpright stoode,
Though persecuted with the hate, of Cayphas wicked broode.
In euerie way, in euery streete, in London royall mart,
To all mens vew proceeding forth: when as the greatest part,
In forreine nations bannisht straide, him Ioue preseru'd at hand,
For th'honour of our noble Queene, and profite of our land.
He externe Princes Legates, heard attentiue, whilest the hest
They of their Lordes declarde, and aunswere prompt againe exprest,
In counsell graue a Nestor, which now noble Burghley hight,
Of woodes, and auncient farmes, and Castles strong, adiacent pight.
which doth the common Treasurie of goods confiscate keepe.
He being full aduertised, of waightie causes deepe:
It worth rehearsall is, forthwith with what industrious care,
He doth disside the strife, and right ascribes, by iudgement rare,
Not aboue two daies space, deferring it, or three at most,
Unlesse of pointes so intricate, the matter stand composde
That without longer trackt of time, it may not be vnfold.
which laud as chiefest, veriest eke, let this high Lordling hold.
The mightie Earle of Arundel, is in this order tide,
The Penbrooke prudent Peere insuing ioyntly by his side,
Both Stewardes of the royall house, of their renowmed guide.
The warlike Nauy of the Queene, came Clinton to thy care,
whereof full thirtie yeares agoe, thou hast tuition bare,
Nor to thy little honour it redoundes, three Princes strong,
That thou hast seru'd, thy selfe of bloud of auncient Peeres esprong,
Atchiuing many hard exploites, a shipborde, and on shore,
Lincolne this warlike Earle, hath with title due vpbore.
Next, of the Princes Chamber, was Lord Haward chiefe assignd,
A man to anger prone, howbeit of gentle courteous minde,
Whose vncle title high of Duke, and Nephew erst did binde,
Whome dead, in like degree, the Earle of Sussex did succeede,
A most redoubted Peere, of courage haut, and bold indeed.
Thy royall Parsons gardon strong, and faithfull tride alwaies,
Elizabeth, prest to attempt, the brunt at all assayes.
In fearfull Mauors bickering iars, through minde vnconquered haut,
Who oftentimes the saluage Rerne, subdued hath in assaut,
Whom noble victorie did adorne, in blouddy warres atchiu'de,
Yet from a righteous Iusticer, he chiefest laud deriu'de,
Whose faith in danger dire at hand, from sincere heart extract,
The Prince had tried, Lord Cicill, and of all the Counsaile sage,
By Princesse verdict chiefe assignd, now stroke with drowping age,
And worne in yeares, with study leane, and sickly on his feat.
For great affaires, white hoary heares and crooked age to fleet,
Doe cause before their time, which then scarse fortie yeares had rought.
Seldome to sleepe addict, from slender diett seldome brought.
Still graue, and modest found, at no time giuen to dallying play,
Where that he talkt, or musing sate, it earnest was alway.
A fautor of religion true, of right he studious was,
In this our age, thinges of great waight, borne for to bring to passe.
Whose loue towardes his natiue soile, and faith, towardes his Queene,
Whose wisedome, busied still about his countries causes seene:
Beyond Europa borders, hath atchiu'd him endles Fame,
Nor here he first to aid his Prince, with learned counsell came:
For in king Edwardes noble Court, he wondrous credite wanne,
And Counsellour to his leich to be, in bloming youth began
By prudent circumspection, to quaile, and bring to nought.
And whil'st some others furrowes deepe, in gurtie channels cast,
Their hollow hulls tos'd, and turmoild, with Æolls whurling blast:
And sometime downe with headlong fall the infernall pitts do see:
He both his honour, and his seat, and name preserueth free.
How wary in Queene Maryes daies, he did himselfe behaue,
And sailes which hung aloft at Mast, to windes relenting gaue,
Because it better is, to yeeld, to rough and mightie force,
Of raging floud, then stand against, and to resist his course,
which doth a deadly perill prest, and certaine harme procure:
By iudgement plaine, apparant doth expresse his wisedome sure:
That for sixe yeares, amidst his foes, vnhurt he vpright stoode,
Though persecuted with the hate, of Cayphas wicked broode.
In euerie way, in euery streete, in London royall mart,
To all mens vew proceeding forth: when as the greatest part,
In forreine nations bannisht straide, him Ioue preseru'd at hand,
For th'honour of our noble Queene, and profite of our land.
He externe Princes Legates, heard attentiue, whilest the hest
They of their Lordes declarde, and aunswere prompt againe exprest,
In counsell graue a Nestor, which now noble Burghley hight,
Of woodes, and auncient farmes, and Castles strong, adiacent pight.
which doth the common Treasurie of goods confiscate keepe.
He being full aduertised, of waightie causes deepe:
It worth rehearsall is, forthwith with what industrious care,
He doth disside the strife, and right ascribes, by iudgement rare,
Not aboue two daies space, deferring it, or three at most,
Unlesse of pointes so intricate, the matter stand composde
That without longer trackt of time, it may not be vnfold.
which laud as chiefest, veriest eke, let this high Lordling hold.
The mightie Earle of Arundel, is in this order tide,
The Penbrooke prudent Peere insuing ioyntly by his side,
Both Stewardes of the royall house, of their renowmed guide.
The warlike Nauy of the Queene, came Clinton to thy care,
whereof full thirtie yeares agoe, thou hast tuition bare,
Nor to thy little honour it redoundes, three Princes strong,
That thou hast seru'd, thy selfe of bloud of auncient Peeres esprong,
Atchiuing many hard exploites, a shipborde, and on shore,
Lincolne this warlike Earle, hath with title due vpbore.
A man to anger prone, howbeit of gentle courteous minde,
Whose vncle title high of Duke, and Nephew erst did binde,
Whome dead, in like degree, the Earle of Sussex did succeede,
A most redoubted Peere, of courage haut, and bold indeed.
Thy royall Parsons gardon strong, and faithfull tride alwaies,
Elizabeth, prest to attempt, the brunt at all assayes.
In fearfull Mauors bickering iars, through minde vnconquered haut,
Who oftentimes the saluage Rerne, subdued hath in assaut,
Whom noble victorie did adorne, in blouddy warres atchiu'de,
Yet from a righteous Iusticer, he chiefest laud deriu'de,
When Mary did her flickering spirite out breath, the Britaine guide,
By chaunce at Hatfield, with her troupe of Ladyes did abide,
Her noble parson, with a crue of yeomen garded strong.
By chaunce at Hatfield, with her troupe of Ladyes did abide,
Her noble parson, with a crue of yeomen garded strong.
Lord Dudley, on a palfray fierce, vp mounted swift along
Doth thither post, his colour white as winters snow, tall pight,
His buttockes brode bespred, his brest, and backe, most faire in sight.
As mightie Alexanders steede, throughout the world renownd,
Bucephalus, or courser fierce of Castor, whom men sound
Of Lædaes egge esprong: this in all pointes, resembling those,
So with his hoofes carreiring in the thinne aire swift he goes.
For of a stripling tought that arte, by riders, till this time
He doth delight, on loftie steedes, all fierie, fierce, to clime.
Where when he came, and license had to come vnto her sight,
On bended knees, he prostrate falles, and duetie doth aright.
Here Robert Dudley, then of comely corpes, and stature tall
Whome fresh, and blooming youth, commended goodly therewithall:
Assigned maister of the horse, by her most royall grace:
Doth alwayes on her maiestie, attend from place, to place,
As often as she rides, and like a true Achates kinde,
His mistres serues, her person next, insuing ioint behinde.
And takes for guerdon of his paynes, and meede for vertue true,
An honourable name, with large reuenewes thereto due.
with portlike houses faire, and stately turretts huge in hight,
whome Leycester her Earle acknowledgeth, and whom by right,
with honour due all Albion land, doth worship and imbrace.
For he exalted vp aloft, and set in royall place,
By lowly mind, and courteous deedes, hath wonne the Britaines heartes.
Pale Enuy, and of mallice fell the sharpe and poysoned dartes,
The myndes of many noble men, with venome blacke bespotts
Howbeit this Peer is free, from raging Enuies filing dropps,
He labreth all to helpe, not damage on poore men to heape,
When that he can, hath still redound, vnto his glory great.
Most bountefull, with stretched hand, he allmes deuout doth giue,
Which aged and decrepit folkes, erect'd for to reliue
His hospitall, at Warwicke, shewes, with annuall rentes thereto.
And Couentry can testifie, where godly Preachers doe,
Continually the blessed word, of hye Iehoue set downe.
Doth thither post, his colour white as winters snow, tall pight,
His buttockes brode bespred, his brest, and backe, most faire in sight.
As mightie Alexanders steede, throughout the world renownd,
Bucephalus, or courser fierce of Castor, whom men sound
Of Lædaes egge esprong: this in all pointes, resembling those,
So with his hoofes carreiring in the thinne aire swift he goes.
For of a stripling tought that arte, by riders, till this time
He doth delight, on loftie steedes, all fierie, fierce, to clime.
Where when he came, and license had to come vnto her sight,
On bended knees, he prostrate falles, and duetie doth aright.
Here Robert Dudley, then of comely corpes, and stature tall
Whome fresh, and blooming youth, commended goodly therewithall:
Assigned maister of the horse, by her most royall grace:
Doth alwayes on her maiestie, attend from place, to place,
As often as she rides, and like a true Achates kinde,
His mistres serues, her person next, insuing ioint behinde.
And takes for guerdon of his paynes, and meede for vertue true,
An honourable name, with large reuenewes thereto due.
with portlike houses faire, and stately turretts huge in hight,
whome Leycester her Earle acknowledgeth, and whom by right,
with honour due all Albion land, doth worship and imbrace.
For he exalted vp aloft, and set in royall place,
By lowly mind, and courteous deedes, hath wonne the Britaines heartes.
Pale Enuy, and of mallice fell the sharpe and poysoned dartes,
Howbeit this Peer is free, from raging Enuies filing dropps,
He labreth all to helpe, not damage on poore men to heape,
When that he can, hath still redound, vnto his glory great.
Most bountefull, with stretched hand, he allmes deuout doth giue,
Which aged and decrepit folkes, erect'd for to reliue
His hospitall, at Warwicke, shewes, with annuall rentes thereto.
And Couentry can testifie, where godly Preachers doe,
Continually the blessed word, of hye Iehoue set downe.
To these annexed comes, which Huntington with chief renowne,
Adornes, and guidaunce great, of Britaines Northarne borders large,
With Fame augmented high extolls, wherof long time the charge,
With Counsaile rare, much grauitie, and faith vnspotted, bore:
To him deserued prayse hath wonne, and Princesse fauour more
Increasd, and natiue Countries peace, and safetie, made succeed.
He in his yong and tender yeares did auncient authors reed,
Which wisedome, and Philosophie, in Greeke, or Latine tong
Containde, play mate to Edward Prince, of auncient race esprong,
Of mighty kinges, their bookes, and grauer studies layd apart.
The Preachers word, this Potentate, hard with attentiue hart.
Whose life with vertuous manners most coruscant, glorious shind.
The Warwicke Earle renownd in armes, of mighty Warwickes kind,
From noble stocke of Grandsiers old esprong, of stomacke stout:
In skirmage grim, despising death, and glory seeking out,
More pretious then his life: And Bedford Earle, which Iustice seedes,
And godlynesse doth dayly sow, religious in his deedes:
Professour true of Iesus Christ, a fosterer of the sicke,
And needy soules: in Counsaile both, to Britaine Monarch sticke.
To these that mighty Lord, renowmed Hunsden ioyntly ioynes,
whose noble aunt, the gratious Queene, deliuered from her loynes,
Espousd in Hymens sacred bandes, to Henryes royall grace.
what should I all recite? one yet remaynes, who in this place,
Demeritts not, with smallest laud, to be remembred here,
Of noble stocke, of grandsiers old, yet he himselfe a Peere,
Far more renownde then they. Sir Henry Sidney, prudent knight,
with the most noble order of the golden Garter dight.
whom Ireland, thrise Embassadour, holding the royall mace,
Hath seene, and executing lawes, set in his Ladies place.
Nor onely seene, but felt, yea feard, and eke imbrac'd with loue,
That no man hath (as true report, and faine the same can proue)
That Region entred in, with greater fauour of the same,
Gouernde in greater awe, or with more wailyng from it came.
Nor onely externe Irish coastes, his noble laud resound,
But Wales on part of Albion land, which doth on Seuerne bound,
(Seuerne a mighty floud, which twixt the borders, sliding flowes)
Her Presidentes most worthy prayse, with trompe of Fame out blowes.
Under whose prudent gouernement, she long hath florisht, free:
From daunger, that it doubtfull seemes, where they more happy, be
Beyng there President, exult, or equall Iudge, reioyse.
Long since renowmd Elizabeth Fraunce hard his sugred voyce,
Thy Legate being than, of goodly stature comely sett.
Adornes, and guidaunce great, of Britaines Northarne borders large,
With Fame augmented high extolls, wherof long time the charge,
With Counsaile rare, much grauitie, and faith vnspotted, bore:
To him deserued prayse hath wonne, and Princesse fauour more
Increasd, and natiue Countries peace, and safetie, made succeed.
He in his yong and tender yeares did auncient authors reed,
Which wisedome, and Philosophie, in Greeke, or Latine tong
Containde, play mate to Edward Prince, of auncient race esprong,
Of mighty kinges, their bookes, and grauer studies layd apart.
The Preachers word, this Potentate, hard with attentiue hart.
Whose life with vertuous manners most coruscant, glorious shind.
The Warwicke Earle renownd in armes, of mighty Warwickes kind,
From noble stocke of Grandsiers old esprong, of stomacke stout:
In skirmage grim, despising death, and glory seeking out,
More pretious then his life: And Bedford Earle, which Iustice seedes,
And godlynesse doth dayly sow, religious in his deedes:
Professour true of Iesus Christ, a fosterer of the sicke,
And needy soules: in Counsaile both, to Britaine Monarch sticke.
To these that mighty Lord, renowmed Hunsden ioyntly ioynes,
whose noble aunt, the gratious Queene, deliuered from her loynes,
Espousd in Hymens sacred bandes, to Henryes royall grace.
what should I all recite? one yet remaynes, who in this place,
Demeritts not, with smallest laud, to be remembred here,
Of noble stocke, of grandsiers old, yet he himselfe a Peere,
Far more renownde then they. Sir Henry Sidney, prudent knight,
with the most noble order of the golden Garter dight.
whom Ireland, thrise Embassadour, holding the royall mace,
Hath seene, and executing lawes, set in his Ladies place.
Nor onely seene, but felt, yea feard, and eke imbrac'd with loue,
That Region entred in, with greater fauour of the same,
Gouernde in greater awe, or with more wailyng from it came.
Nor onely externe Irish coastes, his noble laud resound,
But Wales on part of Albion land, which doth on Seuerne bound,
(Seuerne a mighty floud, which twixt the borders, sliding flowes)
Her Presidentes most worthy prayse, with trompe of Fame out blowes.
Under whose prudent gouernement, she long hath florisht, free:
From daunger, that it doubtfull seemes, where they more happy, be
Beyng there President, exult, or equall Iudge, reioyse.
Long since renowmd Elizabeth Fraunce hard his sugred voyce,
Thy Legate being than, of goodly stature comely sett.
Nor Pary shall I thee, ydrencht in Lethe floudes forgett,
Which in extreme aduersitie, a faithfull counsailour wast,
When Fortune had not yet the crowne, vpon thy Lady cast.
And shewdst thy selfe a seruaunt true, which safetie didst respect,
Of thy deare mistresse, when thou didst those traitours guiles detect.
Which in extreme aduersitie, a faithfull counsailour wast,
When Fortune had not yet the crowne, vpon thy Lady cast.
And shewdst thy selfe a seruaunt true, which safetie didst respect,
Of thy deare mistresse, when thou didst those traitours guiles detect.
Into this sacred company the Duke of Northfolke chose,
Euen in the floure of all his time, his vitall breath did lose.
Euen in the floure of all his time, his vitall breath did lose.
Smith both with pregnant witt adornd, commended eke beside,
With all the noble sciences, whose councell hath bene tride,
Both iust, and sound, by destinies tane, doth closd in Tombe abide.
With all the noble sciences, whose councell hath bene tride,
Both iust, and sound, by destinies tane, doth closd in Tombe abide.
Let here Syr Frauncis Knolls, obtaine his seat amongst the rout,
A man of wondrous constancie, religious, graue, a stout
Defendour of the fayth, who least he should destruction dire
Behold, and godly men consumde, with scorching brands of fire:
The blouddy English Clergy then incenst with outrage fell:
He fled his natiue soyle, in externe coastes and chose to dwell,
Amongst the Germaines, rather there, to lead a lothsome life:
In mestiue grief, and there to dye, then painted Idols, rife
In sacred temples see. Nor happy England had at all,
Him backe retournd beheld, nor rich possessions home could call:
But that renownd Elizabeth, her fathers regall crowne,
Most glorious did sustaine, on whom her neace, in duetie bownd,
Sir Frauncis loyall spouse, attendant seru'd at euery {becke}
The valiant courage of their mynde, his auncestours did deck,
Aboue three hundred winters past, and corps most goodly pight,
With dread, not to be daunted when of yore that mighty knight,
Edward the third, did blouddy warres, agaynst the Celtanes reare,
Then doughtie Knolls most valiantly, himselfe in armes did beare,
And did atchiue such hard exploites, as may the myndes delight,
Of such as reed our Cronicles, whose noble offspring, bright:
Yet florishing at this day, shall make their nephewes yet to come,
To florish more, if mighty Ioue which sitts in highest rome,
The godlines, and righteous minde, of the aged, Sier regard.
A man of wondrous constancie, religious, graue, a stout
Defendour of the fayth, who least he should destruction dire
Behold, and godly men consumde, with scorching brands of fire:
The blouddy English Clergy then incenst with outrage fell:
He fled his natiue soyle, in externe coastes and chose to dwell,
Amongst the Germaines, rather there, to lead a lothsome life:
In mestiue grief, and there to dye, then painted Idols, rife
In sacred temples see. Nor happy England had at all,
Him backe retournd beheld, nor rich possessions home could call:
But that renownd Elizabeth, her fathers regall crowne,
Most glorious did sustaine, on whom her neace, in duetie bownd,
Sir Frauncis loyall spouse, attendant seru'd at euery {becke}
The valiant courage of their mynde, his auncestours did deck,
Aboue three hundred winters past, and corps most goodly pight,
With dread, not to be daunted when of yore that mighty knight,
Edward the third, did blouddy warres, agaynst the Celtanes reare,
And did atchiue such hard exploites, as may the myndes delight,
Of such as reed our Cronicles, whose noble offspring, bright:
Yet florishing at this day, shall make their nephewes yet to come,
To florish more, if mighty Ioue which sitts in highest rome,
The godlines, and righteous minde, of the aged, Sier regard.
Next Ambrose Caue insues. Then Hatton, which the Princes gard,
Of yeoman tall doth lead, with chearefull hart, to Studentes pore
A liberall Mœcenas, none Religion fauouring more.
What should I tell the giftes ingraft within his vertuous mynde?
Or sharpnes of his witt, if cause you vrge it out to finde?
In hearing of the Senate graue with what mellifluous phrase,
And dulcett voyce he speakes, how louing he doth all imbrace
And puissant, men couragious doth affect, and hurtes no wight.
Of yeoman tall doth lead, with chearefull hart, to Studentes pore
A liberall Mœcenas, none Religion fauouring more.
What should I tell the giftes ingraft within his vertuous mynde?
Or sharpnes of his witt, if cause you vrge it out to finde?
In hearing of the Senate graue with what mellifluous phrase,
And dulcett voyce he speakes, how louing he doth all imbrace
And puissant, men couragious doth affect, and hurtes no wight.
Ralfe Sadler with his penne, and Gwalter Mildmay scanning right,
The Arithmetricians Art: both cunning Clarkes, whome vertue gaind
By long vse, hath extold, and wisedome in most thinges attainde:
They both in Senate house perswade, and Counsaile graue downe lay,
The Arithmetricians Art: both cunning Clarkes, whome vertue gaind
By long vse, hath extold, and wisedome in most thinges attainde:
They both in Senate house perswade, and Counsaile graue downe lay,
Chroftes, in his royall mistresse house, controller now doth stay,
And with his valiant burly corps, adornes the Princes hall,
Which erst, in campes of dreadfull Mars, did force the foe to fall.
And with his valiant burly corps, adornes the Princes hall,
Which erst, in campes of dreadfull Mars, did force the foe to fall.
In Englandes chief affaires, one Secretarie to the Queene
Is Walsingham, who Legate then, of Britayne Prince was seene.
At Paris, when the slaughter great and dire destruction was,
And such effusion vast was made, of Christian bloud alas.
A godly man of courage high, with bribe not to be bought.
Nor by corrupting chraft from path of Iustice to be brought.
Most happy sure, which suppliant doth talke with the heauenly king,
But secreatly, as soone as clad he from his bed doth spring.
And of ech day by vowes deuout, doth good abodements take.
O would that many such great kings would of their Counsaile make
Then should no doubt ech common weale in blessed state remaine,
And old Saturnus golden age would be renewde againe.
Is Walsingham, who Legate then, of Britayne Prince was seene.
At Paris, when the slaughter great and dire destruction was,
And such effusion vast was made, of Christian bloud alas.
A godly man of courage high, with bribe not to be bought.
Nor by corrupting chraft from path of Iustice to be brought.
Most happy sure, which suppliant doth talke with the heauenly king,
But secreatly, as soone as clad he from his bed doth spring.
And of ech day by vowes deuout, doth good abodements take.
O would that many such great kings would of their Counsaile make
Then should no doubt ech common weale in blessed state remaine,
And old Saturnus golden age would be renewde againe.
Commended eke with sondry vertues rare the other was
Willson, whose slickering ghost of late to aierie coastes did passe.
These doth the Princesse vse, these Counsailours hath she vsde of yore,
For what to happy end with good successe may well be bore?
If that with wauering minde you holesome counsaile do despise,
Ech state into subuersion runnes deuoyde of good aduise,
And Counsaile graue, which ballaunced in Iustice equall wights
So that without extorting fraude it ech man giue his right:
The peoples blessed state, and kingdomes happines will insue.
Foreseyng wisedome towers vpreares, and Castells fayre in vew.
By which eke earthly monarches hye in happy blisse remaine.
Peace shineth in those landes and plenteous store of fruite and grayne
Throughout the fayre broad fieldes, with fragrāt hearbes adornisht growes,
Such blessings from his heauenly throne almighty Ioue bestowes,
Both on those people, and their land which doe his name adore
And dread with suppliant hartes, and of hye Ioue obey the lore,
And wise are in the Lord: for this true wisedome is in deede,
To know Iehoue, and Christ his sonne, which from him did proceede.
Descending downe into the earth from filthy sinnes to clense,
Those which beleu'd, and to preserue from hells infernall dennes.
O natiue land, God graunt O England that thy wisedome bright,
Herein appeare, that Gods good giftes thou doe acknowledge right,
And meekely thankes condigne bestow, on him with gratefull hart.
What better or what greater gift may Ioue with thee impart?
A guider of thine Imperie adornd with heauenly minde
He gentlie hath bestowde, both learned, wise, seuere and kinde.
Of maiestie to be honoured, chast bold, and to be fear'd
Who since she bore the regall mace, such profitt hath vp reard
Unto thy coastes, as neuer haue thine auncient kings of yore.
Gods worship true she hath restorde, suppresd, and drownde before.
And hath procurde that for the space of twentie yeares and three
Thy people wander may on land and surging salt streames free
From direfull harmes, which gastly broyles of Mars procure, and heape,
For onely in tranquillitie she doth her subiectes keepe,
At home, but would with all her hart, and her indeuour eke,
The externe peoples furious rage [illeg.], who dayly seeke
Their owne destruction fell and reare vp dreadfull skirmage still,
Wherein with mutuall wound the brother doth his brother kill
And neighbour doth with goary knife his neighbours hart bloud spill.
Under the wings of Ioue almight consistes men mortalls will,
No man his owne desire performes, without Gods {sacred} powre.
Perchaunce that the impious sort of men do penaunce serue more sowre,
The cause lyes hid, or sole is knowne to God the eternall guide,
whose strong hand did erect, the starrie regions ingine wide,
A noble and most excellent bright vertue mercy is.
Though she be mighty if she list and courage doth not misse,
In royall brest, yet anger she holdes with restricted raynes,
Sometimes of heynous trespasses, omittyng penall paynes.
This did she when she private was, no royall crowne did beare:
This doth she though the diademe most noble Queene she weare.
An iniurie was offered erst, by a renowmed kyng,
Which certaine hope in boldned minde conceauing wroth, would bring
That which was none of his, into his handes by wresting might.
But by leaue of so mighty a Prince, if lawfull be the right.
For to declare, be aduarous would his neighbours goods extort
Contrarie to Ioues sacred hest but penaunce he payde for't
In midst of all his triumph slayne by destinies cruell dome.
Elizabeth vnwitting it, secure remainde at home.
what buckler or vnconquered ayde for our annoynted Prince,
Such a miraclous deede fulfild in one eyes twinckling blince?
Our kingdomes cause who did defend, and shrine from such a foe?
Who but the Lord, which heauen doth rule and lands and seas also.
What should I speake the daughters lawes attempts her husbands sire,
First sent to Limbo darcksome lakes whose vnkle did conspire.
As Author of seditions new, in winter season cold
A navy sendying out of Fraunce, the Scottish land to hold,
Of which some in the weltring flouds orewhelmd did never trye,
The event of their bard enterprise, the other which did lye,
Incampasst with a trench, and walls of Lyth, were faine to flie,
Backe to their native soyle againe with shame and infamie.
From externe enemies as high Iove our Princesse shrouds and shieldes,
So without bloudshed eke at hame, in Northarne Albion fieldes.
He did vouchsafe the traitrous rout do Rebells to subdue,
Which Warwicke Earle, and Sussex Peer by maine might overthrewe.
And Haward scarse the horsemen troupes and rankes in battaile ioynt,
To Scottish craggie mountaine tops did chase with troncheons point.
what by his false and fickle fayth, doth th'Irish Rebell gayne,
Who traiterous insurrections desirous to maintaine,
Doth lurke in shrubbie groues, or hides in flaggie marish low?
Did not their externe fautours fall, by stout Grayes doughtie blow.
Thou Winter on the other side from shipbord hastning wast,
At hand, thy whurling Cannon shott the Spanish rampier cast,
Downe groueling, and the Popish ranckes did feele thy mightie hand,
Elizabeth in peace triumphantly doth rule her land.
And shall I hope triumph as long as Debora did raigne,
Whose tracte of life, whose thoughts, whose crowne, almighty Ioue maintaine,
For many yeares, blesse and preserue, in calme peace to remaine:
And after mortall life, these worldly thoughtes, and crowne forlorne,
With endlesse life, diuine affectes, and heauenly crowne adorne.
These doth the Princesse vse, these Counsailours hath she vsde of yore,
For what to happy end with good successe may well be bore?
If that with wauering minde you holesome counsaile do despise,
Ech state into subuersion runnes deuoyde of good aduise,
So that without extorting fraude it ech man giue his right:
The peoples blessed state, and kingdomes happines will insue.
Foreseyng wisedome towers vpreares, and Castells fayre in vew.
By which eke earthly monarches hye in happy blisse remaine.
Peace shineth in those landes and plenteous store of fruite and grayne
Throughout the fayre broad fieldes, with fragrāt hearbes adornisht growes,
Such blessings from his heauenly throne almighty Ioue bestowes,
Both on those people, and their land which doe his name adore
And dread with suppliant hartes, and of hye Ioue obey the lore,
And wise are in the Lord: for this true wisedome is in deede,
To know Iehoue, and Christ his sonne, which from him did proceede.
Descending downe into the earth from filthy sinnes to clense,
Those which beleu'd, and to preserue from hells infernall dennes.
O natiue land, God graunt O England that thy wisedome bright,
Herein appeare, that Gods good giftes thou doe acknowledge right,
And meekely thankes condigne bestow, on him with gratefull hart.
What better or what greater gift may Ioue with thee impart?
A guider of thine Imperie adornd with heauenly minde
He gentlie hath bestowde, both learned, wise, seuere and kinde.
Of maiestie to be honoured, chast bold, and to be fear'd
Who since she bore the regall mace, such profitt hath vp reard
Unto thy coastes, as neuer haue thine auncient kings of yore.
Gods worship true she hath restorde, suppresd, and drownde before.
And hath procurde that for the space of twentie yeares and three
Thy people wander may on land and surging salt streames free
From direfull harmes, which gastly broyles of Mars procure, and heape,
For onely in tranquillitie she doth her subiectes keepe,
At home, but would with all her hart, and her indeuour eke,
The externe peoples furious rage [illeg.], who dayly seeke
Their owne destruction fell and reare vp dreadfull skirmage still,
Wherein with mutuall wound the brother doth his brother kill
And neighbour doth with goary knife his neighbours hart bloud spill.
Under the wings of Ioue almight consistes men mortalls will,
No man his owne desire performes, without Gods {sacred} powre.
Perchaunce that the impious sort of men do penaunce serue more sowre,
The cause lyes hid, or sole is knowne to God the eternall guide,
whose strong hand did erect, the starrie regions ingine wide,
A noble and most excellent bright vertue mercy is.
In royall brest, yet anger she holdes with restricted raynes,
Sometimes of heynous trespasses, omittyng penall paynes.
This did she when she private was, no royall crowne did beare:
This doth she though the diademe most noble Queene she weare.
An iniurie was offered erst, by a renowmed kyng,
Which certaine hope in boldned minde conceauing wroth, would bring
That which was none of his, into his handes by wresting might.
But by leaue of so mighty a Prince, if lawfull be the right.
For to declare, be aduarous would his neighbours goods extort
Contrarie to Ioues sacred hest but penaunce he payde for't
In midst of all his triumph slayne by destinies cruell dome.
Elizabeth vnwitting it, secure remainde at home.
what buckler or vnconquered ayde for our annoynted Prince,
Such a miraclous deede fulfild in one eyes twinckling blince?
Our kingdomes cause who did defend, and shrine from such a foe?
Who but the Lord, which heauen doth rule and lands and seas also.
What should I speake the daughters lawes attempts her husbands sire,
First sent to Limbo darcksome lakes whose vnkle did conspire.
As Author of seditions new, in winter season cold
A navy sendying out of Fraunce, the Scottish land to hold,
Of which some in the weltring flouds orewhelmd did never trye,
The event of their bard enterprise, the other which did lye,
Incampasst with a trench, and walls of Lyth, were faine to flie,
Backe to their native soyle againe with shame and infamie.
From externe enemies as high Iove our Princesse shrouds and shieldes,
So without bloudshed eke at hame, in Northarne Albion fieldes.
He did vouchsafe the traitrous rout do Rebells to subdue,
Which Warwicke Earle, and Sussex Peer by maine might overthrewe.
And Haward scarse the horsemen troupes and rankes in battaile ioynt,
To Scottish craggie mountaine tops did chase with troncheons point.
what by his false and fickle fayth, doth th'Irish Rebell gayne,
Who traiterous insurrections desirous to maintaine,
Doth lurke in shrubbie groues, or hides in flaggie marish low?
Did not their externe fautours fall, by stout Grayes doughtie blow.
Thou Winter on the other side from shipbord hastning wast,
At hand, thy whurling Cannon shott the Spanish rampier cast,
Downe groueling, and the Popish ranckes did feele thy mightie hand,
Elizabeth in peace triumphantly doth rule her land.
Whose tracte of life, whose thoughts, whose crowne, almighty Ioue maintaine,
For many yeares, blesse and preserue, in calme peace to remaine:
And after mortall life, these worldly thoughtes, and crowne forlorne,
With endlesse life, diuine affectes, and heauenly crowne adorne.
FINIS.
| The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation | |